Memory Storage: An Exploration of Sensory Memory, Short-Term Memory, and Long-Term Memory , Study notes of Psychology

Download Memory Storage: An Exploration of Sensory Memory, Short-Term Memory, and Long-Term Memory and more Study notes Psychology in PDF only on Docsity! Psychology 105 Module #25 “Memory Storage” A. Atkinson & Shiffrin Model • 1. Sensory memory • 2. Short-term memory • 3. Long-term memory 1. S en so ry m em or y • However, at any given moment, one is only consciously aware of a small portion of the stored information. This selectivity of attention prevents one’s consciousness from being overwhelmed by sensations. In sensory memory, stored information does not stay stored for very long. Time Square in New York City 1 . S en so ry m em or y • The slide below illustrates characteristics of sensory memory. According to Atkinson and Shiffrin, sensory memory is the first stage in the storage process. George Sperling investigated this first stage. 1. Sensory memory • George Sperling investigated sensory memory and determined its capacity and duration. In doing so, he used a partial or whole report method. These methods involved flashing three rows of letters in about 1/20 of a second. In partial report, a tone corresponding to one of the rows signaled the subject to report that row. Whole report involved simply flashing the nine letters without a cue. George Sperling • A J P C • G V B X • E W L R How well did you do? Sperling found that subjects averaged around four to five letters with the whole report method. • A J P • G V B • E W L • A J P C • G V B X • E W L R Let’s try the partial or cued report method. (1) M H W (2) O Z F (3) I A D 1 . S en so ry m em or y • The slide below illustrates the vulnerability of sensory memory (iconic or visual) to delayed intervals of time. 2 . S ho rt- te rm m em or y • Peterson & Peterson (1959) studied short term memory (STM). STM refers to a limited capacity store that can maintain unrehearsed information for up to 20 to 30 seconds. With rehearsal, information can be maintained indefinitely in STM. Information in STM is highly vulnerable to interference and/or decay unless it is continually rehearsed and/or encoded. Let’s take a look at a film clip that sheds humor on STM. Peterson & Peterson HIC FEB KEZ ZOT POX FIB How well did you do? List of Nonsense Syllables • 1. DOP • 2. HIC • 3. FEB • 4. KEZ • 5. CEG • 6. GUX • 7. ZOT • 8. POX • 9. FIB • 10. DUS 2. S ho rt- te rm m em or y • Peterson & Peterson (1959) did a variation of our experiment. They found that retention of nonsense syllables became more difficult if subjects performed an interference task with a long interval delay before recall. The slide above illustrates the Peterson protocol. 2 . S ho rt- te rm m em or y • Baddeley calls short-term memory “working memory.” He has identified three components of working memory. These include a visual-spatial sketchpad, a phonological rehearsal loop, an executive control system, and episodic buffer. A visual spatial sketchpad is a mental manipulation of a visual image. A phonological rehearsal loop is an active recitation of information such as trying to remember a phone number. Working Memory 2 . S ho rt- te rm m em or y • An executive control system is an attempt to juggle information (e.g., Doing a math problem in one’s head.) This system also allow one to shift or divide attention as needed. Lastly, an episodic buffer is a limited capacity store that relies on all components of working memory to integrate information. This buffer is also an important working memory component in that it promotes in the transitioning of STM information to long term storage. Working Memory 3 . L on g- te rm m em or y • We experience long term memory because it is highly organized. How do we organize words and concepts in LTM? Research has proposed clustering and conceptual hierarchies. Clustering is the tendency to remember similar or related terms in groups. A conceptual hierarchy is a multilevel classification system based on common properties among items. How would you recall the list of words to your right? One is able to retain LTM’s because of Conceptual hierarchies B. The biology of storage • 1. The memory “trace” • 2. Synaptic changes • 3. Stress hormones and memory • 4. Implicit vs. explicit memory 1 . T he m em or y t ra ce • One of the great mysteries in psychology has been the brain’s role in memory. Typically, when this topic is addressed, the conversation turns to the “memory trace.” A memory trace refers to a neurological (physical) structure or network of neurons that represent a specific memory. Carl Lashley was one of the earliest researchers to tackle the physiology of memory. Lashley hypothesized that the elusive “memory trace” was localized in a specific region of the brain. Carl Lashley 1 . T he m em or y t ra ce • To test his hypothesis, Lashley trained rats to learn a maze. Next, he ablated various areas of the rat’s cortex that he thought may be responsible for the “maze” memory. Regardless of the ablations, the rats still maintained a partial memory of the maze. Lashley concluded that memories do not exist in one particular area of the brain. That is, the elusive memory trace is not localized but involves an integration of more than one brain region. Carl Lashley 2. S yn ap tic ch an ge s • Neuroscientists have discovered chemical substances that can promote or inhibit LTP. If LTP is blocked, rats are unable to learn mazes. The opposite occurs if chemical substances are used to promote LTP. In this case, learning and memory are facilitated. Ginkgo biloba is a natural herb is considered by some to be a brain nutrient. That is, it may promote LTP. Ginkgo Biloba To the Left 2. S yn ap tic ch an ge s • LTP is not immediate. As a result, any new memory traces are vulnerable to outside forces such as other electrical impulses and “knocks” on the head such as a concussion. Testimonials surely confirm LTP. That is, knocks on the head do not affect long-term memories but they do affect the most recent memories or experiences. ECT prevents LTP of newly acquired memories in depressed persons. 3. S tre ss h or m on es a nd m em or y • Stress and the emotional effects affected memory in two ways. In the short-term, strong emotions (above) form strong memories. During stress, arousal “sears” events in the brain as the amygdala activates the brain’s memory forming areas. On the other hand, chronic stress and related hormones (e.g., cortisosteroid hormone) can actually corrode the neural wiring in one’s brain. Stress has a negative effect on old memories. Traumatic events Can energize the Memory making Brain! 4. Im pl ic it ve rs us ex pl ic it m em or y • Anatomy of memory research comes from investigations of head injured persons and organic amnesia. There are two types of amnesia. First, retrograde amnesia involves the loss of memories for events that occurred prior to the onset of amnesia. Second, anterograde amnesia involves the loss of memories for events that occur after the onset of amnesia. Amnesia studies have led to discoveries of other areas brain responsible for memory. Specifically, researchers have identified the parahippocampal region. 4. Im pl ic it ve rs us ex pl ic it m em or y • The cerebellum appears tobe associated with procedural memories. Richard Thompson has shown that specific memories depend on localized neural circuits. He found specific regions in the cerebellum contained a conditioned eye blink response. After training a rabbit, and then destroying the specific area of its cerebellum that localized the “eye blink memory,” the rabbit no longer showed the classically conditioned response. The cerebellum appears To be linked to Procedure memory. The Hippocampus is Linked to explicit Memory.