Chapter 9—Basic Components of Memory

Basic Terms

• Memory = ability to recall information that has previously been learned

• Storage = putting new information in memory (storage)

• Retrieval = finding information that was previously learned (digging through file cabinets)

Memory

3 types of memory—sensory, short, & long

Sensory register

Short-term or working memory

Long-term memory

Input

Input

Input

Lost Lost Lost?

Sensory Memory• Holds incoming information long enough

for brain to start preliminary processing

• All information stays with us for very brief time

Afterimages

• Afterimages are one way that we can examine the sensory memory

• Look very carefully at the next slide—stare at the dot in the center for about 30 seconds

• After 30 seconds, the picture will disappear and be replaced by a blank slide

• Notice what you see on the blank slide

Pay close attention to the dot in the center of the slide

After I click off this slide, the dot will remain on screen for 4 seconds.

Then, the dot will disappear and an array of 12 letters—4 letters each in 3 rows—will appear at the center of the slide for a fraction of a second

After the array disappears, write down as many letters as you can recall

T M B G

L F W S

B Z N H

T M B G

L F W S

B Z N H

How many did you remember?Here is the array in its original place on the slide

Most people remember only about 1/3 of the letters when asked to report them all

Characteristics of sensory memory

• Capacity– Unlimited—consider the flag picture

• Duration– Very brief

• Visual (vision) = approximately ½ second• Auditory (hearing) = approximately 2-3 seconds

Moving information from sensory memory to working memory

• Attention processes are very important

• Memory is highly dependent on attention

• Often times, one reason that you can’t remember is due to the fact that you haven’t paid attention to them

Capacity of short term memory

• Very limited

• Magical number 7, plus or minus two

• People can usually hold 5 to 9 things in memory at one time

• Grouping together objects increases amount of information

Overloading the capacity of Short Term Memory

• Often overloaded because of its limited capacity

• Too much information presented at once—over seven items in a few seconds duration

• Information too difficult—complexity of information takes up processing

Chunking:Extending WM Capacity

• Which list of letters is easier to remember?

C F K I B G A I B

C I A F B I K G B

DoneReady

DoneReady

Chunking:Extending WM Capacity

• By combining items into meaningful “chunks,” we use fewer slots of WM

C F K I B G A I B 9 slots of WM

CIA FBI KGB 3 slots of WM

Control Processes in Short Term Memory

• Organization– Chunking is one way– memory?

• Retrieval– How much info is stored?

Long-term memory : Storage

Compare Long-Term Memory to Storing files in a cabinet

Construction in LTM storage

• LTM is not like a computer memory or video• Builds multiple lines to retrieve information• Perceptions (predicting, thinking before it

actually occurs) add to our memory

Illusions

• When perception does not accurately represent the world

Illusions

• When perception does not accurately represent the world

How long-term memory processes interfere with perception

On the next slide, name the colors of the ink as quickly as possible

How long-term memory processes interfere with perception

On the next slide, name the colors of the ink as quickly as possible

REDBLACKPINKGREENREDPINKBLUEBLUE

BLUEPINKREDREDBLACKBLUEREDGREEN

GREENBLUEBLACKPINKREDBLUEGREENPINK

On the next slide, name the colors of the ink as quickly as possible

GREENBLUEREDBLUEBLACKREDGREENBLACK

REDGREENBLACKBLUEREDPINKGREENRED

BLUEREDBLUEGREENBLACKPINKREDBLUE

Factors that affect LTM storage

• Short Term Memory

• Prior knowledge

• Expectations

• Repeating

Sponge