Cognition and Memory Models of Memory Serial Position

Cognition and Memory Models of Memory Serial Position Effect Amnesia Levels of Processing

Characteristics of Memory l General Processes – 1. Acquisition – 2. Storage – 3. Retrieval

I. Modal Model of Memory In late 1950 s and early 1960 s cognitive psychology was primarily interested in information processing l Described processing of material from an informational point of view l

Modal Model of Memory Retrieval Stimuli Sensory Analysis Rehearsal Short-Term Memory Loss? Long Term Memory

Memory Sensory memory – Brief stimulus traces – May be literal or near literal representations l Types of sensory memory – 1. Iconic - visual – 2. Echoic - auditory l

Memory l Short term memory (STM) – More flexible , useful, active process – Sometimes as referred to as active memory or working memory – Requires some effort at maintenance

Memory l Long term memory (LTM) – Relatively permanent – Storage component

Memory l Free recall procedures – List learning task – Demonstrates U-shaped serial position curve

II. Serial Position Curve

Your Serial Position Results

Serial Position Curve Primacy effect - recall of early items is enhanced by rehearsal l Recency effect - Recall of later items is enhanced by sensory store l

Serial Position Curve Recency effect can be eliminated by having the person engage in some other mental activity for a short period of time to prevent rehearsal l For example, count backwards by seven and so on l This will disrupt recency effect l

Influence of Activity on Recency Effect % Recall Delay Filled Delay Serial Position

Rehearsal and Recall Additional rehearsal does allow for additional recall l There also can be a long term analog to serial position effects – e. g. names of presidents l

III. Amnesia Refers to “not memory” literally l More formally, a disorder or loss of memory l Types – 1. Retrograde - disrupt things learned prior to the event which initiates amnesia – 2. Anterograde - disrupts information acquired after the event l

III. Amnesia l Case of H. M. – Treated with surgery for intractible epilepsy – removed hippocampus – resulted in near total inability to demonstrate memory and learning

III. Amnesia l Alcoholism – Poor diet associated with heavy alcohol use – Thiamine (B 1) deficiency – Also electrolyte imbalances – Can lead to Korsakoff’’s syndrome – Inability to acquire new information

Levels of Processing Approaches to Memory Craik and Watkins (1973) challenged the claim that the number of repetitions is crucial to later recall l Suggested that the modal model paid inadequate attention to the strategies and activities of the subject l

Levels of Processing Approaches to Memory l Described rehearsal types – Maintenance rehearsal - repeating – Elaboration rehearsal - thinking about relationship in material – Actual maintenance rehearsal is not that effect – Subjects tend to shift to elaboration when qualities about material are known

Levels of Processing Approaches to Memory Levels of processing described as “deep” and “shallow” l It was predicted deep processing will lead to greater recall l Not an easy idea to test l

Levels of Processing Approaches to Memory l Divided subjects into three groups – 1. Judge words on the basis of similar/dissimilar case – 2. Judge words on the basis of similar/dissimilar rhyme – 3. Judge words on the basis of meaning – 4. Asked to memorize – 5. Memorize by meaningfulness

Levels of Processing

Levels of Processing Group 5 (Intent to memorize and deep processing) did as well as Group 3 l Group 4 (Intent to memorize) had highly variable results l Incidental versus Intentional learning l

Levels of Processing There continues to be parallels with the modal model l Primary memory (STM) l Secondary memory (LTM) l

Levels of Processing l There are problems with level of processing – There could be elaboration processing – What is depth of processing? – Are processes parallel or sequential?