5. Introduction to Memory
What Is Memory?
How Memories Are Formed?
How Long Do Memories Last?
Why we forget?
What are noted problem with memory?
Using Memory
Organising Memory
Processes Of Memory
Anatomy Of Memory
Tips To Improve Memory
7. What is Memory?
Memory refers to the processes that are used to acquire, store,
retain, and later retrieve information.
There are three major processes involved in memory that are
encoding, storage, and retrieval.
Human memory involves the ability to both preserve and recover
information we have learned or experienced. As we all know,
however, this is not a flawless process. Sometimes we forget or
misremember things. Sometimes things are not properly encoded in
memory in the first place.
9. How Long Do Memories Last?
Some memories are very brief, just seconds long, and allow us to take in sensory
information about the world around us.
Short-term memories are a bit longer and last about 20 to 30 seconds. These
memories mostly consist of the information we are currently focusing on and
thinking about.
Some memories are capable of enduring much longer, lasting days, weeks,
months, or even decades. Most of these long-term memories lie outside of
our immediate awareness, but we can draw them into consciousness when they are
needed.
11. Why we forget?
Forgetting is a common problem that can have both minor and serious consequences.
Why and how do we forget information?
One of today's best known memory researchers, Elizabeth Loftus, has identified four major
reasons why people forget:
I. Retrieval failure.
II. Interference.
III. Failure to store.
IV. Motivated forgetting.
12. Why we forget?
I. Retrieval failure.
One possible explanation of retrieval failure is known as Decay theory. According to
this theory, a memory trace is created every time a new theory is formed. Decay theory
suggests that over time, these memory traces begin to fade and disappear. If the
information is not retrieved and rehearsed, it will eventually be lost.
II. Interference.
Interference theory suggests that some memories compete and interfere with
other memories. When information is very similar to other information that was
previously stored in memory, interference is more likely to occur.
There are two types of interference
• Proactive interference is when an old memory makes it more difficult or impossible
to remember a new memory.
• Retroactive interference occurs when new information interferes with your ability to
remember previously learned information
13. Why we forget?
Failure to store
• Sometimes, losing information has less to do with forgetting and more to
do with the fact that it never made it into long-term memory in the first
place. Encoding failures sometimes prevent information from entering
long-term memory.
Motivated forgetting.
• Sometimes we may actively work to forget memories, especially those
of traumatic or disturbing events or experiences. Painful memories can
be upsetting and anxiety-provoking, so there are times we may desire
to eliminate them.
• The two basic forms of motivated forgetting are suppression, which is a
conscious form of forgetting, and repression, an unconscious form
of forgetting
15. Problems Associated with Memory
Memory problems can be as:
• Minor Annoyances like forgetting where you left your bike keys.
• Major Diseases like Alzheimer's and other kinds of dementia.
Mental health condition:
Memory is also a key element in certain mental health conditions.
• Post-traumatic stress disorder.
• Major depression.
17. Using memory
To use the information that has been encoded into memory, it first has to be
retrieved.
There are many factors that can influence how memories are retrieved such as the
type of information being used and the retrieval cues that are present.
Of course, this process is not always perfect. Have you ever felt like you had the
answer to a question right at the tip of your tongue, but you couldn’t quite
remember it?
This is an example of a perplexing memory retrieval problem known as
lethologica or the tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon.
19. Organising Memory
The ability to access and retrieve information from long-term memory allows us to actually
use these memories to make decisions, interact with others, and solve problems.
But how is information organized in memory?
One way of thinking about memory organization is known as the semantic network model.
This model suggests that certain triggers activate associated memories. A memory of a
specific place might activate memories about related things that have occurred in that
location.
20. Organising Memory
Some ways to Organise Memory Are:
Steady Improvement
Trust Your Memory
Believe In Yourself
Face Facts
Map Your Memories
22. Processes Of Memory
There are three processes of Memory: Encoding, Storage, and Retrieval. All three
of these processes determine whether something is remembered or forgotten.
23. Encoding:
“Processing information into memory is called Encoding”.
Automatically Remembered- e.g Where ate lunch yesterday?
Pay Attention To Remember- e.g Deep study to remember course contents.
24. Types of Encoding
There are several different ways of encoding verbal information:
Structural or Visual Encoding: Focuses on what words look like.
Phonemic or Acoustic Encoding: Focuses on how words sound.
Semantic Encoding: Focuses on the meaning of words.
25. Storage
After information enters the brain, it has to be stored or maintained. To describe the
process of storage, many psychologists use the three-stage model proposed by
Richard Atkinson and Richard Shiffrin.
According to this model, information is stored sequentially in three memory
systems: sensory memory, short-term memory, and long-term memory.
26. Retrieval
“Retrieval is the process of recalling stored information from memory.
Basically it is getting information out of your long term memory and
returning it to your conscious mind”.
27. Retrieval Cues
“Retrieval Cues are stimuli that help the process of retrieval”.
Associations: Because the brain stores information as networks of associated
concepts, recalling a particular word becomes easier if another, related word
is recalled first. This process is called Priming.
Context: People can often remember an event by placing themselves in the
same context they were in when the event happened.
Mood: If people are in the same mood they were in during an event, they
may have an easier time recalling the event.
28. Methods of Retrieval
There are two main methods of retrieving memories:
Recognition: It is the association of something with something previously
experienced. It involves comparing new information with information stored in
memory.
Recall: It is the retrieval of information from the memory without any cue. It
involves remembering a fact, event or other information which is not currently
physically present.
29. Anatomy of Memory
The main parts of the brain involved in memory are:
Amygdala
Hippocampus
Cerebellum
Thalamus
Prefrontal Cortex
30. Amygdala
Plays role in formation of new memories,memory consolidation and modify the strength of
emotional content of memories.
Hippocampus
Hippocampus plays a critical role in the formation, organization, and storage of new memories
as well as connecting certain sensations and emotions to these memories.
Cerebellum
The cerebellum plays a role in processing procedural memories, such as how to play the piano
Thalamus
Thalamus plays a crucial role in sustaining short-term memory and also plays role in working
memory. Prefrontal Cortex
The prefrontal cortex appears to be involved in remembering semantic tasks.
32. Tips To Improve Memory
No matter how great your memory is, there are probably a few things you can do to
make it even better.
Jot it down
Attach Meaning to it
Repeat it
Avoid Cramming
Utilise Mnemonics Devices
34. Factors of Memory
Learning:
Memory depends upon learning. It is not possible to keep memorized any thing
without learning. Learning mechanically have significance in learning. by
understanding and learning
Retention :
Keeping the learnt things in the rain is its retention.
If the retention power of a person is weaken, his related memory also weaken. There
are found individual difference in the retention power
35. Factors of Memory
Recall
Remembering a prior experience is its recall. Recall is such a mental process by
which we bring to our present consciousness the past incidents and experiences
without presenting a physical stimuli. Recall classified into two:
Natural or Dispositional : Natural recall occurs by itself when we let the thought flow
freely, any thought can come to the mind.
Reflective or Deliberative : here the thOught occur to the mind on making effort.
recall the answer pertaining to the question given to the question paper. Eg. student
36. Factors of Memory
a. Ability to retain:
• This depends upon good memory traces left in the brain by past experiences.
b. Good health: A person with good health can retain the learnt material better than
a person with poor health.
c. Age of the learner: Youngsters can remember better than the aged.
d. Maturity: Very young children cannot retain and remember complex material.
37. Factors of Memory
e. Will to remember:
Willingness to remember helps for better retention.
f. Intelligence:
• More intelligent person will have better memory than a dull person,
g. Interest:
• If a person has more interest, he will learn and retain better.
h. Over learning:
Experiments have proved that over learning will lead to better memory.
i. Speed of learning:
• Quicker learning leads to better retention,
38. Factors of Memory
j. Meaningfulness of the material:
Meaningful materials remain in our memory for longer period than for nonsense
material,
k. Sleep or rest:
Sleep or rest immediately after learning strengthens connections in the brain and
helps for clear memory.
40. Types of Memory
There are Three types of memory:
Sensory Memory(fraction)
Short term Memory(STM)
Long term Memory(LTM)
41. Sensory Memory
Based upon fractions of seconds
Brief Memory
First stage of Memory
Store info. For very brief period
42. Short Term Memory(STM)
Second stage of multistore memory
Duration of STM between 15-30 Second
Capaciy about 7 items
Working Memory
Can be transferred to LTM
43. Long Term Memory(LTM)
Brain’s sytem for storing managing and retrieving information
More complex than STM
Includes life experiences
Store info. Over an extended period
Refers as life time memory
44. Types of STM and LTM
STM :
I. Woking Memory
II. Auditory/Verbal Memory
III. Visual-Spatial Memory
LTM
I. Implicit Memory
II. Explicit Memory
III. Autobiographical Memory
45. Types of STM :
Working Memory :
Subpart of short term memory
Temporarily stores, organizes and manipulates informaion
47. Visual-Spatial Memory :
Involves visual sense
Ability to recall shapes, colors and places and movement
Skill helps children in learning
48. Types of LTM :
Implicit Memory :
Remembered unconsiously and effortlessly
Effects thoughts and behaviour
Allow someone to do things in repeating manner
E.g: childhood memories even in old age
49. Subtypes of Implicit Memory
Procedural Memory :
Recall of how to perform an action,task or skills
50. Explicit Memory :
Concious ,
Intentional, and,
Remembring of information
51. Subtypes of Explicit Memory :
Declarative Memory :
Recall of factual info. Such as dates ,word, faces and concepts
E.g: Remebring the rule of last game currently happened
It is divided in two subtypes:
1: Episodic Memory
2:Semantic Memory
52. 1: Episodic Memory
2:Semantic Memory
1: Episodic Memory :
Recall of personal experience
E.g : remebring what happened in your B’da party or baseball game
2: Semantic Memory :
Recall of general facts
E.g : Remebring the Capital of UK & batting average of S. Tendulkar