Unit 4: Memory11.23.15

Part 1The Phenomenon of Memory

In your notes, WITHOUT talking to anyone, write down the names of the 7 dwarfs from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Entry Task

How difficult or easy was this for you?

In order to name the 7 dwarfs, your brain went through the following process:◦Encoding: learning the information◦Retaining: storing the information over time

◦Retrieval: getting the information back out

Snow White & the 7 Dwarfs

Did you have a feeling that you knew the name of a dwarf but were unable to retrieve it?◦This is called Tip-of-the-Tongue Phenomenon: when the retrieval process does not produce a complete response but produces parts that must be constructed into a whole

Shows that forgetting may result from retrieval failure, not encoding or storage failures

Snow White & the 7 Dwarfs

Look at the order in which you wrote down the names, is there any pattern?Memory is organized by sound, letter, or meaning

Snow White & the 7 Dwarfs

How many think they would do better if they saw pictures of the dwarfs?◦Recall vs. Recognition Recognition is generally easier b/c the first step is already complete & all you have to do is decide if the information is correct

Snow White & the 7 Dwarfs

Circle correct dwarf namesCross out incorrect namesLeave alone ones you are unsure of

Were we able to remember more correct names this way?

Snow White & the 7 Dwarfs

Correct names in order from most likely to be remembered to least likely:◦Sleepy◦Dopey◦Grumpy◦Sneezy◦Happy◦Doc◦Bashful

Snow White & the 7 Dwarfs

Memory: the persistence of learning over time through the storage and retrieval of information

Memory = basis for knowing your friends, neighbors, English, the national anthem, and yourself

If memory was nonexistent, everyone would be a stranger to you; every language foreign; every task new; & even you yourself would be a stranger.

Memory

Highly intelligent & talented English musician who experienced brain damage in his 40s◦Unconscious for several weeks before awakening with a very dense amnesia

Can remember nothing for more than a few minutes

The Mind: Module 10 & 11

Clive Wearing

Write down a sentence or two about your 3 most vivid memories

Almost all of what you wrote down was probably of a personally, rather than nationally, important nature:

◦Injury/accident (18%)◦Sports (11%)◦Attraction (10%)◦Animals (9%)◦Deaths (5%)◦Vacations (5%)

Exercise

A unique and highly emotional moment may give rise to a clear, strong, and persistent memory called flashbulb memory

However, thismemory is notfree from errors

Flashbulb Memory

Why can flashbulb memories be wrong?

How can we remember things we haven’t thought about for 4 years but forget the name of a person we just met a minute ago?

How can 2 people’s memories of the same event be different?

How can we improve our memories?

Memory

Without writing it down, try to remember this sentence:◦The angry rioter threw the rock at the window.

Test

Stages of Memory

Keyboard(Encoding)

Disk(Storage)

Monitor(Retrieval)

Sequential Process

Information ProcessingThe Atkinson-Schiffrin (1968) 3-

stage model of memory:1. sensory memory2. short-term memory3. long-term memory

Problems with the Model1. Some info skips the first 2 stages &

enters long-term memory automatically

2. Since we can’t focus on all sensory info in the environment, we select info (through attention) that is important to us

3. The nature of short-term memory is more complex

Working memory: newer understanding of short-term memory; involves conscious, active processing of incoming auditory & visual-spatial info, and of info retrieved from long-term memory◦Incoming stimuli, along with info from our long-term memory, becomes conscious short-term memories in a temporary “construction zone”

Working Memory

Working MemoryAuditory & visual processing is controlled by a central executive, through an episodic buffer

Brain activity underlies these working memory components◦Frontal lobes are active when central executive focuses on complex thinking

◦Parietal & Temporal lobes that help us process auditory & visual info are active when such info is in our working memory

Working Memory

Average Answers:1. C/D2. A3. B4. B5. D6. B/C7. B/C8. B/C9. A

10.B11.A12.D13.B14.A15.B/C16.C17.B18.B19.A20.A

Forgetting Frequency

Percentage of common memory complaints:Forgetting Frequency

18-44

45+

Losing things 56 73Forgetting major events in their past

29 39

Forgetting events that just occurred

21 27

Making simple errors 14 22Getting lost in familiar places 10 22