7.1-7.5
7.1- You Create Memories by Processing Information
Information Coding- to better understand how the brain creates memories, psychologists developed theories based on computers
● Humans don't create memories the way computers store information
-Your brain is more complex and more dynamic than a computer
-Your brain is unique, unlike computers, no two brains are the same
-Your brain is not designed to remember everything
Memory- the nervous system's ability to obtain and retain information and skills for later retrieval
Three Phases of Information Processing in Memory:
-Encoding- changing information into a neutral code the brain can use; processing information
-Storage- maintaining information for some time; retention
-Retrieval- accessing the information for use; recalling/remembering
7.2- Your Memories are Unique
-Memories of events are not perfectly encoded in the brain.
● Previous experiences and personal preferences shape our memories
-Memories are not "truth" but a person's perception of what occurred.
-Human memory sometimes fail
● Some information is immediately forgotten
● Some information is remembered for a short time
● Other information is stored and remembered for a lifetime
Attention determines what information is encoded in our memory systems
● Attention facilitates memory formation
● Our attention is limited
-If you do not pay attention to look or listen, then you cannot even process sensory input to see or hear
● Splitting your attention between two or more things can limit your memory of an event
Limited attention can be useful, as it allows us to ignore distractions
● Important information is that the focus of attention is encoded
● Irrelevant information that does not garner attention is ignored and not encoded
Selective Attention- the ability to direct mental resources to relevant information in order to process that information further, while a
ignoring irrelevant information
● We use our attention to select what information is important and should be encoded and stored in memory
● Selective attention improves the creation of memory
Filter Theory of Selective Attention:
,-Selective attention is like a filter-
● Important information is allowed through the filter
● Irrelevant information is prevented from going through the filter
Selective Attention in a Listening Task:
● The participant receives a different auditory message in each ear
● But is only instructed to pay attention to one ear and repeat just one of the messages
● Typically, the person has no awareness of unattended message
● Thus, the unattended message was "filtered out"
Cocktail Party Effect:
● The salient information, just like hearing your name, automatically captures your attention
Salient Information- unexpected, novel, important, very different, or meaningful information
● Ex: loud sounds, friend in a red coat, faces
● Salient information automatically captures our attention
7.3- You Maintain Information in Three Memory Stores
Sensory Storage- unattended information is lost; very briefly holds a vast amount information
● Lets perceptions appear to be unified wholes
● In the sense it is experienced: visual, auditory, taste, smell, touch; conscious experience
● Visual is under one second; auditory is 3-4 seconds
● Vast due to huge amount of sensory input
Attention is key for information being encoded in short-term storage
● Sensory storage holds sensory information for very brief periods of time, about 1 second or less
● If a person pays attention to sensory input, then the information may move into short-term and then long-term memory
Sensory Storage is key for consciousnesses
● By maintaining a large amount of information for a fraction of a second
-Sensory memory enables us to experience the world as a continuous stream of information
Short-term Storage- information that is not manipulated in working memory is lost; briefly holds a limited amount of information in
awareness
● Maintains information for immediate use
● Primarily auditory; also visual and semantic
● Under 20 seconds
● Indefinite with working memory manipulation of items
● About 7 items, plus or minus 2
● Using working memory aids capacity
● These memories disappear quickly, after about 30 seconds
● Ex: remembering a string of 5-7 words and repeating it back
Working Memory:
7.1- You Create Memories by Processing Information
Information Coding- to better understand how the brain creates memories, psychologists developed theories based on computers
● Humans don't create memories the way computers store information
-Your brain is more complex and more dynamic than a computer
-Your brain is unique, unlike computers, no two brains are the same
-Your brain is not designed to remember everything
Memory- the nervous system's ability to obtain and retain information and skills for later retrieval
Three Phases of Information Processing in Memory:
-Encoding- changing information into a neutral code the brain can use; processing information
-Storage- maintaining information for some time; retention
-Retrieval- accessing the information for use; recalling/remembering
7.2- Your Memories are Unique
-Memories of events are not perfectly encoded in the brain.
● Previous experiences and personal preferences shape our memories
-Memories are not "truth" but a person's perception of what occurred.
-Human memory sometimes fail
● Some information is immediately forgotten
● Some information is remembered for a short time
● Other information is stored and remembered for a lifetime
Attention determines what information is encoded in our memory systems
● Attention facilitates memory formation
● Our attention is limited
-If you do not pay attention to look or listen, then you cannot even process sensory input to see or hear
● Splitting your attention between two or more things can limit your memory of an event
Limited attention can be useful, as it allows us to ignore distractions
● Important information is that the focus of attention is encoded
● Irrelevant information that does not garner attention is ignored and not encoded
Selective Attention- the ability to direct mental resources to relevant information in order to process that information further, while a
ignoring irrelevant information
● We use our attention to select what information is important and should be encoded and stored in memory
● Selective attention improves the creation of memory
Filter Theory of Selective Attention:
,-Selective attention is like a filter-
● Important information is allowed through the filter
● Irrelevant information is prevented from going through the filter
Selective Attention in a Listening Task:
● The participant receives a different auditory message in each ear
● But is only instructed to pay attention to one ear and repeat just one of the messages
● Typically, the person has no awareness of unattended message
● Thus, the unattended message was "filtered out"
Cocktail Party Effect:
● The salient information, just like hearing your name, automatically captures your attention
Salient Information- unexpected, novel, important, very different, or meaningful information
● Ex: loud sounds, friend in a red coat, faces
● Salient information automatically captures our attention
7.3- You Maintain Information in Three Memory Stores
Sensory Storage- unattended information is lost; very briefly holds a vast amount information
● Lets perceptions appear to be unified wholes
● In the sense it is experienced: visual, auditory, taste, smell, touch; conscious experience
● Visual is under one second; auditory is 3-4 seconds
● Vast due to huge amount of sensory input
Attention is key for information being encoded in short-term storage
● Sensory storage holds sensory information for very brief periods of time, about 1 second or less
● If a person pays attention to sensory input, then the information may move into short-term and then long-term memory
Sensory Storage is key for consciousnesses
● By maintaining a large amount of information for a fraction of a second
-Sensory memory enables us to experience the world as a continuous stream of information
Short-term Storage- information that is not manipulated in working memory is lost; briefly holds a limited amount of information in
awareness
● Maintains information for immediate use
● Primarily auditory; also visual and semantic
● Under 20 seconds
● Indefinite with working memory manipulation of items
● About 7 items, plus or minus 2
● Using working memory aids capacity
● These memories disappear quickly, after about 30 seconds
● Ex: remembering a string of 5-7 words and repeating it back
Working Memory:
