Ch. 7 Memory and Thought

Memory and Thought

The storage of retrieval of what has been learned or experienced is called memory

When remembering information you use three memory processes; encoding, storage, and retrieval

Encoding is the transformation of information so that the nervous system can process it. To do this you use your senses

Memory and thought

After information is encoded it goes through the second phase, storage. This information is maintained over a period of time

The third memory process is retrieval. This is when information is brought to mind from storage

Along with the three memory processes are the three stages of memory. They are sensory, short term and long term

Memory and thought

Sensory memory involves sight and hearing among other senses. Sensory memory is only able to hold information for a fraction of a second before it disappears. (do example in class)

The things you have in your mind at any given moment are being held in short term memory (let’s pick some of those young minds, see what’s on your mind)

Memory and thought

To keep information in short term memory for more than just a few seconds you may use maintenance rehearsal. This is where you repeat a phone number several times before it is dialed so that you can store it longer in your short term memory

Memory and thought

Chunking is the process of grouping items together to make them easier to remember. For example, phone numbers and social security numbers

Long term memory refers to the storage of information over an extended period of time

Semantic memory is a type of long term memory that deals with our language, including its rules, words, and meanings

Memory and thought

Episodic memory, on the other hand deals with the memory of our own lives

Another type of memory that is long term memory is called declarative memory. This involves both episodic and semantic. Declarative is any knowledge that can be called forth including time of occurence

Memory and thought

Procedural memory is learned skills that do not require conscious recollection. An example of this would be walking. Every movement you make when walking doesn’t have to be thought out because that task has become so simple. You don’t have to think ok “ place my right foot in front of my left foot and put my weight on that foot by pushing off with my other foot”

Memory and thought

Recognition is the ability of someone to identify an object, situation or idea as one he or she has or has not experienced before.

For example if you walk into a house you usually immediately recognize if you have or have not been in that house before.

Memory and thought

Reconstructive memory is memory that has been simplified, enriched or distorted according to the individual’s experiences or attitudes. (old house)

Confabulation is when we don’t remember every detail of a story so we fill in the gaps with made up information that may be wrong.

Memory and thought

When someone has eidetic memory they basically have a photographic memory. Eidetic memory is the ability to remember with great accuracy, visual information on the basis of short term exposure

Decay is the fading away of memory over time

Many people use mnemonic devices to help remember things. (can you think of any?)