episodic memory is made up off…
contextual info
relations: (Associations) of details
details
encoding
the process of adding events into memory - forming memories
episodic memory in the lab
study phase: encoding new ‘events’
shown photos on diff corner of screen, with diff coloured borders
test phase: retrieving these ‘events’
what was the image of?
where was it on the screen?
what colour was the border?
–> tests to see if it was actually encided
dividing attention and memory
- dividing attention during encoding markedly impairs memory
- i.e. if you do something else at the same time you will not learn as much
attention and memory
study phase: encode events
some trials: colour of events
other trials: location of events
test phase: retrieve these events > what colour? what location?
when people succeeded in encoding fMRI lights up in hippocampal region
hippocampus is essential for binding info into memory
picture superiority effect
- pictures easier to remember than words
- mentally imaginable words are also easier to remember
Paivio’s Dual Code theory
an image plus a verbal code produces a richer memory trace
distinctiveness theory
an item that pops out will be better remembered
- must be the only one to pop out
The Von Restorff isolation effect
a memory boost from processing a difference in the context of similarity
processing something different amongst similar things
distinctiveness and picture superiority
- better memory for words that are visually distinctive
- supports picture superiority
importance of meaning
- what pictures are of really matters
- those with people in them = more memorable
- just bc people ‘like’ them more doesn’t mean they are more likely to remember - e.g. natural scenes
uniqueness
item with more distinctive features or features that are unique to them = more memroable
droodles
- context/additional information makes things easier to remember
- schemas: prior knowledge on what is going on
fMRI whilst encoding new facts (Schema)
scheme related facts:
- activated the prefrontal cortex more
- activated the temporal lobe less (inc hippocampus)
- prefrontal cortex schema-related activation predicted Y2 course performance
BRAIN ENCODES RELATED AND UNRELATED FACTS IN VERY DIFFERENT WAYS
Related: PFC more and MTL less
Unrelated PFC less and MTL more
schema effect
expected objects are better remembered than neutral objects
prediction error/distinctiveness
unexpected objects are also better remembered than neutral objects
The Baker-Baker paradox
This girl is called Baker
This girl is a baker
- easier to remember that her occupation is a baker, people remember occupations associated with faces more than names
- processing meaning helps memory encoding
how can WE influence what we will remember
- create a story - processing the meaning
- repetition - superficial processing
depth of processing in the brain
- brain regions that are part of processing meaning in general are ALSO activated when encoding the meaning into memory
semantic elaboration
- consciously processing things - making a story, relate to what you know all ready
memory encoding is a byproduct of…
ongoing processing
this has implications for:
- active learning
the prefrontal cortex and memory
- damage does not cause amnesia BUT DOES impar memory control and organisation
- more organisation = better recall - so this would effect quality of memories
fMRI study and distinctiveness
- people more likely to remember faces if people judged their distinctiveness
- this judging boosted activation of the hippocampus - which is essential for binding memories
TRY AND REMEMBER THINGS BASED ON DISTINCTIVNESS
hippocampus is essential for
binding info into memory
