Human Memory

1
Human Memory

• Dr. Shana Pack
• Western Kentucky University

2
Lecture outline

• What would life be like without memory?
• Information Processing Model of Memory
• Encoding
• Retrieval
• Forgetting

3
What would life be like without memory?

• The case of Clive Wearing
• What memories were preserved?
• What memories were lost?
• Memory systems
• implicit memory doesnt require intentional
  remembering
• explicit memory involves deliberate remembering

4
What would life be like without memory, continued

• Memory systems, continued
• declarative memory memory for facutal
  information
• semantic general knowledge
• episodic autobiographical
• procedural memory memory for skills and
  abilities
• The role of the hippocampus

5
The Information Processing Model of Memory
Stimulus input
Receives all sensory information from the
environment very brief
Sensory Memory
Attention, recognition, etc, act as filters
Capacity 7 2 Time lasts approximately up to
30 seconds without rehearsal (depends on type of
information)
Short-Term Memory
encoding
retrieval
Long-Term Memory
Capacity unlimited Time unlimited
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Encoding

• Encoding putting information into memory
• Master of Memory Hermann Ebbinghaus
• learning curve
• serial position effect
• spaced versus massed learning
• Mnemonic devices
• chunking

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Encoding, continued

• Levels of processing
• structural
• phonemic (auditory)
• imagery
• semantic

8
Retrieval

• Retrieval getting information out of long-term
  memory and into short-term memory
• The importance of context
• The misinformation effect
• Source monitoring
• Eyewitness testimony
• The role of expectations

9
Forgetting

• Forgetting curve (Ebbinghaus)
• Decay theory
• Encoding problems
• Interference
• retroactive new information interferes with
  remembering old
• proactive old information interferes with
  remembering new
• Repression (?)

10
Improve Your Memory

• Pay attention to what your are hearing, seeing
  and reading!!
• Use organizers. Outline. Pay attention to the
  titles and subtitles in your text. Ask yourself
  questions about what you expect to learn.
• Strive to make material more meaningful. Relate
  it to something you already know or personal
  experience.

11
Improve your memory, continued

• Repetition and rehearsal always help retention.
  Review and practice the things you want to
  remember
• Realize there are limits to the amount of
  information you can process at one time. Dont
  overload yourself!
• Relate old information to new.

12
Improve your memory, continued

• Use visual cues to help yourself remember.
• Use mental imagery. Study pictures, charts,
  graphs. Draw your own personal diagrams of
  abstract ideas.
• Counteract interference. Get plenty of sleep
  after you study.
• Realize your memory is not always as accurate as
  you think!