Psychology Memory Concepts

Memory

• Memory is an active process of constructing information over time.
• Brain regions involved in memory include the hippocampus (explicit, new memories), cerebellum (implicit memories), and prefrontal cortex (semantic, short-term memory). The entire cortex stores explicit memories
• Amnesia refers to the loss of memories.
• The misinformation effect involves creating false memories after receiving misleading information after an event. Example: Dr. Elizabeth Loftus's experiment with car crashes.
• Flashbulb memories are vivid and emotionally charged memories that may change or fluctuate over time.
• Memory has three systems:
  • Sensory memory: Holds sensory information, allowing perceptual processing. It has a large capacity but short duration (iconic - visual, 1.5 seconds; echoic - auditory, 2-4 seconds).
  • Short-term memory (working memory): Stores temporary information (20-30 seconds without rehearsal). Its capacity is limited (5-9 items).
  • Long-term memory: Stores acquired information for unlimited duration and capacity.
    • Explicit (declarative) memories: Consciously recalled memories:
      • Episodic: Events in one's life
      • Semantic: Facts about the world
    • Implicit (non-declarative) memories: Do not require conscious thought:
      • Procedural: Skills and actions
      • Priming: Exposure to a stimulus influences a future response (e.g., seeing red and then thinking of a red fruit).

Memory Processes

• Stages of Memory Processes:
  • Encoding: Getting information into memory through attention and mnemonics.
  • Storage: Maintaining information over time
    • Engrams are the physical basis of memory (changes in the CNS)
    • Consolidation: fixing engrams in long-term memory.
    • Schemas are mental models relevant to the stored information.
  • Retrieval: Accessing stored information when needed.
    • Recall: Generating information on one's own.
    • Recognition: Identifying previously learned information.
    • Retrieval cues: Hints that aid in remembering. Encoding to retrieval is improved by matching the context between encoding and retrieval.
• Primacy Effect: Better memory for items at the beginning of a list.
• Recency Effect: Better memory for items at the end of a list.

Biological Basis of Memory

• Engram: Physical changes in the brain resulting from experience (a memory trace).
• Karl Lashley: Research showed engrams aren't stored in a specific brain location but distributed throughout.
• Donald Hebb: Proposed that neurons activated together become associated.
• Long-term potentiation: Strengthening connections between neurons after activation.
• Long-term depression: Weakening connections between neurons after low or no activation.
• Mood-dependent memory: Memory retrieval is enhanced when the mood during encoding matches the mood during retrieval.