Memory Overview in Psychology

Memory Overview

• Kartini Ilias (Ph.D), Senior Lecturer/Clinical Psychologist, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiTM, presented on memory.
• The lecture covered the nature of memory, forgetting, biological bases of memory, memory and the criminal justice system, and using psychology to improve memory.

The Nature of Memory

• Memory is an internal record or representation of past events or experiences.
• Memory is a constructive process where individuals actively organize and shape information during encoding, storage, and retrieval.

Memory Models

• Information Processing Model: Memory is like a computer with encoding, storage, and retrieval stages.
• Parallel Distributed Processing (PDP) Model: Memory involves a vast network of interconnected units (neurons) processing information simultaneously.
• Levels of Processing Model: Memory retention depends on the depth of processing during initial encoding. Deeper processing leads to better memory storage and retention.
• Traditional Three-Stage Memory Model: Memory involves three stages: sensory memory (brief impressions), short-term memory (temporary holding), and long-term memory(lasting storage).

Encoding, Storage, Retrieval

• Encoding: The process of taking in and transforming information (visual, auditory, semantic).
• Storage: Information placement in memory (short-term or long-term), based on attention and review.
• Retrieval: The process of accessing stored information when necessary. Retrieval success depends on prior rehearsal.

Application in Daily Life

• Information processing model helps in understanding study habits.
• Effective encoding and relating to existing knowledge improves information storage.
• Frequent self-testing enhances retrieval ability.
• PDP model explains how a smell might stimulate a memory, or how hearing a familiar song elicits emotions. PDP model is crucial in complex tasks like multitasking.
• Levels of Processing model: deeper processing of information improves memory. For example, remembering a person's name by relating it to their interests.
• Three-stage memory model: helps in organizing study techniques. Repetition helps transfer information from short-term to long-term memory.

Biological Bases of Memory

• Changes in neurons (long-term potentiation), through synaptic strengthening, can impact memory.
• Hormones influence various brain structures and affect memory.
• Flashbulb memories are vivid images of emotionally significant events.
• Memory is localized and distributed throughout the brain, not confined to the cortex.

Biological Causes of Memory Loss

• Amnesia: memory loss due to brain injury. This is categorized as Retrograde amnesia (loss of past memories) and Anterograde amnesia (inability to form new memories).
• Alzheimers disease is characterized as a progressive mental deterioration with marked memory loss.

Memory and the Criminal Justice System

• Eyewitness accounts can be highly persuasive but are fallible.
• The accuracy of recovered memories is sometimes debated.

Using Psychology to Improve Memory

• Strategies to improve memory include: paying attention, using rehearsal techniques, improving organization, managing time, using the encoding specificity principle, employing self-monitoring/overlearning, and using mnemonic devices.

Forgetting

• Forgetting is rapid in the immediate aftermath of learning.
• Relearning takes less time.
• Theories of forgetting include decay theory, interference theory (retroactive and proactive), motivated forgetting (painful, threatening, or embarrassing), encoding failure (STM not encoded in LTM), and retrieval failure (stored LTM temporarily inaccessible).

Overcoming Problems with Forgetting

• Strategies to improve memory include managing the serial position effect (remembering the beginning and end of a list), addressing source amnesia, navigating sleeper effects, and utilizing spacing of practice.

Sensory Memory

• Sensory memory preserves a brief replica of sensory information.
• Sensory information has a large capacity.
• Sensory information lasts for between 0.5 and 4 seconds
• Information is transferred to short-term memory.

Short-Term Memory

• Short-term memory involves current thoughts.
• STM holds 5-9 items for approximately 30 seconds.
• Chunking enhances STM capacity.
• Maintenance rehearsal maintains information in STM.

Working Memory

• STM is also a type of working memory which is more than a passive storage.
• Active information processing in STM occurs via visuospatial sketchpad, phonological rehearsal loop, and central executive.
• Working memory is a more active system for processing and using short-term memories.

Long-Term Memory

• Long-term memory (LTM) stores information with an unlimited capacity.
• Improving LTM involves organization, elaborative rehearsal, and retrieval cues.
• Types of LTM include explicit (semantic and episodic) and implicit (procedural, classical conditioning, priming).