metatheory
a set of assumptions + guiding principles
- scientists need more than just questions when deciding what + how of experiments
stages of memory
- encoding
- storage
- retrieval
encoding
process of placing new info in memory; changing into a form that can be stored
storage
concerns the nature of memory stores (location, duration, capacity, type)
known as a memory trace (info stored in some way for later use
retrieval
retrieving stored info from memory; can take one of two forms
- retrieval: retrieve info from memory in response to a cue or question
- recognition: refers to ability to identify if encountered something before
STM vs LTM
STM
- limited capacity
- hold items for short duration
- physical / sensory codes
- trace decay / interference
- prefrontal cortex
LTM
- unlimited capacity
- indefinite duration
- meaning / semantic codes
- cue dependent forgetting
- hippocampus
multi store model of memory
sensory stores –> (attention) –> STM –> (rehearsal) –> LTM
sensory store = decay
STM = displacement
LTM = interference
sensory stores
Modality specific
- Iconic memory: visual store
- Echoic memory: auditory store
Holds information very briefly (1-2s)
Info lost via decay
Attention occurs after information held in sensory stores
- Some info that is attended is processed by short-term store
iconic memory
visual store
echoic memory
auditory store
short term store
Very limited capacity
7 +- 2 items (Miller, 1956)
Items vs chunks
Integration of smaller units
Info lost via displacement = when store is full, new information pushes out old information to take its place
serial recall task
Recall items in exact sequence
Memory advantage for first + last items
recency
New items replace old items
Last item = no new info
Redundant suffix item at end of list disrupts recency
primacy
Involves LTM
Earlier items in list get full attention
Slower presentation rate = longer time for attention; more items remembered
long term store
Info transferred from STM to LTM via rehearsal
Unlimited capacity
Stores info over a very long period of time
Info lost via interference = some memories hinder retrieval of other memories
strengths of multi store
Widely accepted that there’s 3 distinct memory systems
Evidence to support separate STM + LTM stores
weaknesses of multi store
Oversimplified; stores do not operate in a single, uniform way
Cannot explain implicit learning (learning that occurs over time)
Info only transferred to LTM via rehearsal
levels of processing
Major challenge to the multi-store approach
Processes during learning determines info sorted in LTM
Memories as byproduct of perception, attention + comprehension
levels of processing range from…
Shallow analysis (physical)
Deep analysis (semantic)
main assumptions of levels of processing
Level / depth affects memorability
Deeper levels of analysis produce longer lasting, stronger + elaborate memory traces
Craik & Tulving (1975)
3 tasks:
1. Shallow-graphemic: word upper/lower case?
2. Intermediate-phonemic: word rhymes with target?
3. Deep-semantic: word fits blank in sentence?
Assessed recognition memory
Performance 3x higher with deep rather than shallow processing
Morris et al. (1977)
2 learning tasks
Shallow = rhyme
Deep = semantic
2 recognition memory tests
Standard = select list words from non-list words
(usual superiority for deep processing)
Rhyme = select words rhyming with list words
(superiority for shallow processing)
working memory
STM used when performing complex tasks
Under various processes + store info at the same time
Perform tasks; not explicitly memory
STM replaced by working memory
All components have limited capacity + can work independently
If 2 tasks use the same component, they cannot be performed together successfully
If 2 tasks use different components, possible to perform both equally well
