Cognition Chapter 7 Memory Cognition The way in

Cognition: Chapter 7 Memory

Cognition • The way in which information is processed and manipulated in remembering, thinking, and knowing. • Includes: Memory, Thinking, and Language

Processes in Memory Three step process… 1. Encoding: processing information into the memory 2. Storage: retaining memories over time 3. Retrieval: getting information out of memory

Biology of Memory • Hippocampus • in the limbic system • processes memories of information • informational memory • Amygdala • in the limbic system • processes memories of emotions • emotional memory • Cerebellum • in the hindbrain • processes memories of movements • muscle memory

Encoding • Pay Attention! • The first step in getting information into memory is to pay attention to it. • Attention involves focusing awareness on a narrowed range of stimuli or events. • To pay attention one must focus. • Attention is likened to a screen that filters out most stimuli, while allowing a select few to get by. • Research to determine whether this filtering process occurs early or later in the information processing sequence has found that both may be at play.

Attention • Selective attention: the process of focusing on a specific aspect of experience while ignoring others. • redundant…attention IS selective • Divided attention: concentrating on more than one activity at the same time. • Multitasking • Sustained attention: the ability to maintain attention to a selected stimulus for a prolonged period of time. • Vigilance

Types of Processing • Automatic • information is processed effortlessly into memory • things we process automatically • Space, Time, & Frequency • Effortful • placing new information into memory requires work • Rehearsal is necessary • For example: memorizing a billion AP Psychology terms

Levels of Processing Studied by Craik & Lockhart

Types of Encoding

Types of Encoding

Ways to Improve Encoding • Elaboration • Self-referent • Imagery • Dual-code hypothesis • Mnemonics

Elaboration • The formation of a number of different connections around a stimulus at any given level of memory encoding. • Webbing • For example: car • Structural - The word car is spelled c-a-r. • Phonemic - The word car rhymes with far. • Semantic - The word car means a fourwheeled vehicle that can transport people from point A to point B.

Self-Referent • Relating material to your own experience • Make it personal • For example: car • Self-referent - My mom’s car is a 2012 silver Honda. I know it is a car because it has four wheels, an engine, air bags, brakes, and helps my mom get to work everyday.

Imagery • Mental pictures • When you picture an image in your mind that represents a word • Powerful aid for effortful processing • For example: car

Mnemonics • Memory techniques 1. Method of Loci (Memory Palace) • Taking an imaginary mental walk 2. Link Method • Mental picture of how things are connected to one another 3. Keyword Method • Combining the creation of substitute words with visualization 4. Acronyms • A word formed from the first letters of each word in a phrase