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Memory as Information Processing (p.237)
INTRODUCTION
Cognitive psychologists liken the mind to a computer information processor.
KEY CONCEPTS EXPLAINED
...Like a computer, the
mind:
- Encodes information into a form the brain can recognize and process (convert).
- Stores the information (retain).
- Retrieves the information (recovery).
...Introduction
to the Three Box Model: Three Interacting Memory Systems
- Sensory Memory
- Sensory information from the environment.
- Retains fro 1-2 seconds to it can be processed.
- Can handle large amount of information.
- Sensory information from the environment.
- Short Term Memory (STM)
- Limited amount of information.
- Retention limited to 30 seconds.
- Limited amount of information.
- Long Term Memory (LTM)
- Accounts for longer storage.
- Accounts for longer storage.
...Challenge to the Three Box Model computer analogy
- There may not be three distinct memory systems.
- Humans to not operate like a computer.
- Computer is sequential in processing information.
- Brain uses parallel processing which means it performs many operations simultaneously (See next section for further information).
...Parallel
Distributed Processing (PDP)/ Connectionist Model
- Alternative to standard information processing model.
- Knowledge is represented not as images but as connections among thousands of
interacting parallel processing units which are distributed in a vast network.
- PDP resembles brain wiring more closely than standard model.
- Old model is better at explaining why information is sometimes forgotten when new information is learned.
GLOSSARY
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parallel distributed processing (PDP) |
Sensory Memory: Fleeting Impressions (p.239)
INTRODUCTION
Sensory memory acts as a holding bin until we select the items for our further attention.
KEY CONCEPTS EXPLAINED
- A sensory register exists for each sense.
- Pattern recognition occurs here during the transfer of information to STM.
- Images are detailed and accurate.
GLOSSARY
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sensory memory | |
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sensory register |
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Short-term Memory: Memory's Work Area (p.239)
INTRODUCTION
The "working memory" processes information to be stored in long term memory. It is relatively brief and limited in capacity.
KEY CONCEPTS EXPLAINED
..Brief
- Retains information for about 30 seconds.
- Rehearsal can extend the time period.
..Encoded Format
- No longer a sensory image.
..Transfers selected information into long term memory.
- H.M.'s memory deficits were the result of a problem in transferring explicit memories from short-term storage into long-term storage.
..
..Working
Memory: The mental "scratchpad".
- Holds new information from sensory memory.
- Holds retrieved memory from long term memory.
- Examples: Quickly forgotten telephone numbers or names of people at a party.
- STM has a limited capacity - 7 units plus or minus 2.
Check out the capacity of your short term memory.
..Chunks: Combating the
leaky bucket
- STM capacity is actually 7 CHUNKS
plus or minus 2.
- "Chunk" is a meaningful unit of information.
- "ZDQ" is three chunks of information but "FBI" is only one because it has a meaning.
GLOSSARY
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short-term memory (STM) | |
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chunk |
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Long-term Memory: Final Destination
(p.241)
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Organization in Long-term Memory (p.241)
INTRODUCTION
The vast storage of information in long-term memory needs to be organized and indexed.
KEY CONCEPTS EXPLAINED
..Semantic
Categories
- Example: "Orange" belongs to the category of "fruit".
- Information about something specific, "orange," is linked to information about the semantic category, "fruit."
..Network Models
of Organization
- Assumes semantic networks are universal.
- Individual's use depends on their personal experience.
- More schooling results in greater use of semantic categories in recall.
..Other Ways to Organize Information
- Sound of the word or the way it looks.
- Tip of the Tongue (TOT) States.
- Guesses have a similar sound or same number of syllables as the target word.
- Tip of the Tongue (TOT) States.
- Familiarity
- Relevance
- Association with other information.
GLOSSARY
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long-term memory (LTM) |
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The Contents of Long-term Memory (p.243)
INTRODUCTION
The contents of long-term memory can be placed into the categories of skills and abstract knowledge.
KEY CONCEPTS EXPLAINED
..Procedural
Memories: Knowing "how to."
- Implicit memories.
- Examples: Combing your hair, tying your shoelaces.
..Declarative
Memories: Knowing "that."
- Explicit Memories
- Semantic Memories
- General knowledge about the world.
- Example: Cats play with yarn.
- General knowledge about the world.
- Episodic Memories
- Representations of personally experienced events.
- Example: Your cat 'fluffy' got tangled in a ball of blue yarn when she was a kitten.
- Representations of personally experienced events.
GLOSSARY
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procedural memories | |
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declarative memories | |
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semantic memories | |
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episodic memories |
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From Short-term to Long-term Memory: A Riddle (p.243)
INTRODUCTION
Explaining the serial position effect by using the three box model.
KEY CONCEPTS EXPLAINED
- The Serial Position Effect
- Recall of items at the beginning of a list and at the end of a list are much
better than recall of items from the middle of the list.
- Recall of items at the beginning of a list and at the end of a list are much
better than recall of items from the middle of the list.
- First Items: Primacy Effect
- Since the first items are first into STM, they are thoroughly processed and remain
in memory.
- Since the first items are first into STM, they are thoroughly processed and remain
in memory.
- Last Items: Recency Effect
- At the time of recall, these items are still sitting in the STM.
- At the time of recall, these items are still sitting in the STM.
- Problem with this explanation:
- Under some conditions, the last items are well remembered long after the STM memory of those items should have faded and disappeared.
GLOSSARY
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serial-position effect |
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