Memory Flashcards
(18 cards)
What is memory?
The capacity to store, retain and retrieve information and includes past experiences, knowledge and thoughts
This occurs in the cerebrum
What three processes do memories go through to be formed?
Encoding
Storage
Retrieval
What is encoding?
Converting information to a form that the brain can process and store
What is storage?
Retention of information over a period of time
What is retrieval?
Recovery of stored material
What are the three levels of memory in what order?
All information that gains access to the brain will firstly pass though the sensory memory
If selected it will enter the short term memory
Form there it will be transferred to the long term memory or discarded
What is sensory memory?
Sensory memory retains all visual and auditory input(stimuli) received for a few seconds
Only selected images and sounds are encoded into the short term memory
What is the short term memory?
It has a limited capacity and only retains information for a short time
After this short time information will either be transferred to the LTM or discarded(displaced or decayed)
How can you increase the capacity of the STM?
Chunking- means grouping related information together therefore reducing number of items brain needs to recall
Rehearsal-repeating information over time can help extend the time information remains in the STM
What is the serial position effect?
It describes the fact we are most likely to recall items at start or end of a list
This is because we are more likely to have rehearsed the items at the start and end of the list(start-LTM, end-STM)
Those in the middle have either been displaced or decayed
What is working memory?
It’s an extension of the STM, it describes the fact that the STM can process data to a limited extent as well as store it
Allows STM to perform simple cognitive tasks
What is long term memory?
It has an unlimited capacity and holds information for a long period of time
What three ways is information transferred from the STM to the LTM?
Rehearsal
Organisation
Elaboration
What is rehearsal?
Repeating information over and over
This is a shallow form of encoding which means it may not lead to long term retention
What is organisation?
Grouping related information into logistical categories
What is elaboration?
Adding information on to the original memory
It’s a deeper form of encoding and more likely to lead to improved information retention
What are contextual cues?
They’re pieces of information that relate to the time that the original memory was encoded
They are seen to help in the retrieval of memories
Why can’t we remember everything?
Decay
Displacement
