MEMORY

Learning that has persisted over time

INFORMAT IONPROCESSING MODEL

Richard Atkinson and Richard Shiffrins model
Encoding
Getting information into our brain

Storage
Retaining that information

Retrieval
Get the information back out

LIMITATIONS
Computers process sequentially but
we have parallel processing where we
can process many aspects of a problem
simultaneously
Walking into a restaurant you process the
smell of the food, the appearance of your
friend, the sounds of voices, etc.

CONNECTIONISM
Info processing model that focuses on the complex,
simultaneous processing is connectionism
Memories are products of interconnected neural
networks and specific memories arise from
particular activation patterns in these networks
The neural networks change (creating and
strengthening pathways) in response to interacting
in the environment

AT K I N S O N A N D S H I F F R I N - A G A I N
Sensory memory (fleeting)
The immediate recording of sensory information
in the memory system

Short-term memory (encoded via rehearsal)

Activated memory that holds a few items briefly
(eg phone number while dialing) this is where it
is held before it is tossed or stored

Long-term memory
Relatively permanent and limitless storehouse of
the memory system (knowledge, skills and
experiences)

AT K I N S O N A N D S H I F F R I N M O D E L

Maintenance Rehearsal

Sensory
Input

Sensory
Memory

Attention

Encoding
Working or
Long-term
Short-term
memory
Memory Retrieval

CHALLENGES TO THE MODEL

Alan Baddeley and others challenged
Atkinson and Shiffrins view of the STM as a
small brief storage space
Research shows that it involves active
processing and this is where you are making
sense of new input and linking with long-term
memories

WORKING MEMORY
Re-conceptualized and re-named
Focuses on conscious, active processing of
incoming auditory and visual-spatial information and
information retrieved from long-term memory
Baddeleys model

WORKING MEMORY
Function - conscious processing of information
where information is actively worked on
Capacity - limited (holds 7 +/- 2 items)
Duration - brief storage (about 30 seconds)

Sensory
Input

Sensory
Memory

Attention

Working or
Short-term
Memory

CALLING MS.
VAESSEN
To demonstrate, memorize the following phone
number (presented one digit at a time)...
The number lasted in your working memory longer
than 30 seconds
So, how were you able to remember the number?

M A IN T E NA N C E R E H E A R SA L
Mental or verbal repetition of information

Allows information to remain in working memory

longer than the usual 30 seconds

Sensory
Input

Sensory
Memory

Attention

Working or
Short-term
Memory

ENCODING
Explicit and implicit memories
Explicit memories the facts and

experiences we consciously know and

declare (a.k.a. declarative memories)
Requires effortful processing (attention and
conscious effort)

IMPLICIT MEMORIES
Outside of the Atkinson and Shiffrin stages
we have implicit memories (a.k.a. nondeclarative memories)
In implicit memory we see unconscious
encoding of incidental information such as
space, time, and frequency
Uses automatic processing it is outside of
our awareness
Retention is independent of conscious recollection

W H AT W E A U T O M AT I C A L LY P R O C E S S

Space
When studying you will encode the place
on the page where certain things appear.
When youre retrieving the information,
you may visualize the information.

Time
Frequency

W H AT W E A U T O M AT I C A L LY P R O C E S S

Space
Time
As you live your life, you are keeping
track of the sequence of events.
Automatic encoding will help you can
retrace your steps.

Frequency

W H AT W E A U T O M AT I C A L LY P R O C E S S

Space
Time
Frequency
You effortlessly keep track of how
many times things happen

IMPLICIT MEMORIES
Include both procedural memory and conditioned
associations

Procedural memory is used for automatic skills

Associations link stimuli

IMPLICIT MEMORIES
Include both procedural memory and conditioned
associations
Riding a bike versus sweaty palms in class

Procedural memory is used for automatic skills

(how to ride a bike, brush your hair, chop peppers,
etc.)
Associations link stimuli

A U T O M AT IC PR O C E SS ING
Difficult to shut off happens so effortlessly
Effortful processing can become automatic., for
example language

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CRASH COURSE!

SENSORY MEMORY
STORE
Function - holds information long
enough to be processed for basic
physical characteristics

Sensory
Input

Sensory
Memory

Capacity - large
can hold many items at once
Duration - very brief retention of
images
0.3 sec for visual info
2 sec for auditory info

SENSORY MEMORY STORE

Sensory
Input

Sensory
Memory

Divided into two subtypes:

iconic memory - visual
information
echoic memory auditory information
Iconic memory was
investigated by Sperling in
1960

SENSORY MEMORY STORE

Sensory
Input

Sensory
Memory

Sensory memory
forms automatically,
without attention or
interpretation
Attention is needed
to transfer information
to working memory