explicit/declarative memory
conscious recollections (episodic/semantic memory)
implicit/nondeclarative memory
no conscious recollections
(procedural memory)
encoding
transfer of information from short-term memory to long-term memory
sensory memory
limited but large number of unanalyzed stimuli held for a brief duration
persistence of vision
continued perception of visual stimulus after it’s no longer present
iconic memory
0.25-0.50 seconds
echoic memory
1-3 seconds
sperling’s experiment
- participants shown 12 letters in 3 rows
- whole report method: asked to report all the letters in the grid (25% of letters successfully reported on average)
- partial report method: asked to report one row based on which tone played (reported most letters)
- delayed partial report method: asked to report one row but tone indicating which row was delayed (only reported one letter)
short-term memory
limited capacity of analyzed stimuli is held for 15-20 seconds unless one engages in rote rehearsal
rote rehearsal
repeating information to oneself
digit span
- studies inicate 5-9 items can be held
- present string of items and ask participants to recall as many as they can
- number of items pronounced in 1.5-2 seconds is your digit span
change detection
- studies indicate that 4 items can be held
- change in color of square diagram
miller
proposed that 7+/-2 chunks of information can be held
working memory
stores and manipulates information for action (learning, completion of tasks, reasoning)
phonological loop
- phonological store that holds verbal and auditory stimuli for a few seconds
- articulatory rehearsal process that maintains stimuli in the phonological store through rehearsal
visuospatial sketch pad
holds visual and spatial information
central exclusive
retrieves information from long-term memory. coordinates activity in the phonological loop and visuospatial sketch pad based on task demands by directing attention
evidence of a phonological loop
- phonological similarity effect: confusion between similar sounding letters/words
- word length effect: better memory for short words than long words
- articulatory suppression: repetition of an irrelevant sound impairs memory because it interfered with articulatory rehearsal process
- evidence of a visuospatial sketch pad
- mental rotation of a visual image
- harder to point to and maintain a visual image in mind because both required the visuospatial sketchpad
evidence of a central executive
- behaviour of patients with frontal lobe brain damage reveal that control of attention is impaired
- perseveration: a thought or action is repeated even when it does not help fulfill the goal/task
episodic buffer
stores information and is connected to long-term memory
