INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY 2 lecture 1.2
MEMORY
How we remember things
There are different processes involved in this.
Memory is not a reproductive process, it is more of a reconstructive process.
Memories undergo several processes in recalling information such as encoding, consolidation, storage and
retrieval.
Encoding allows information to be converted Into a construct that is stored in the brain indefinitely. Once it
is encoded, it can be recalled from short-term memory or long-term memory. The process of encoding
begins with perception. It is achieved using chemicals and electrical impulses in the brain so neural
pathways or connections between neurons are formed and strengthened through long-term potentiation,
and long-term potentiation alters the flow of information within the brain so that when we experience
something new, the brain is rewiring itself to store these new events in our memory.
So the way that information is stored can affect how well it is likely to be remembered, and there are four
types of encoding:
Visual Process of encoding images and visual sensory
information. Mental pictures. Temporarily stored in
iconic memory and moved into LTM for storage.
e.g. car, level, dog, truth, book, value
Acoustic Use of auditory stimuli or hearing to implant
memories. Aided by the phonological loop.
Elaborative Uses information already known and relates it to
new information being experienced.
Semantic Use of sensory input that has a specific meaning or
can be applied to a context. Chunking and
mnemonics (e.g.acronyms) aid semantic coding.
Organisational
Consolidation (strengthening)
Every single experience that we have changes our brains, experiences leave what we would call memory
traces. This happens through a process of consolidation. The more you consolidate information, the easier
it is to recall and you're more likely to recall it with greater accuracy.
So the more you think about the memory, the more you consolidate it and the easier it is to recall.
it is important to note that memory traces are not perfect and we always have errors in our memory. So
instead when we remember past events, we reconstruct them with the aid of our memory traces, but also
with our current beliefs of what happened. there are a lot of external things that can influence this as well,
so memory is reconstructive and not reproductive.
MEMORY
How we remember things
There are different processes involved in this.
Memory is not a reproductive process, it is more of a reconstructive process.
Memories undergo several processes in recalling information such as encoding, consolidation, storage and
retrieval.
Encoding allows information to be converted Into a construct that is stored in the brain indefinitely. Once it
is encoded, it can be recalled from short-term memory or long-term memory. The process of encoding
begins with perception. It is achieved using chemicals and electrical impulses in the brain so neural
pathways or connections between neurons are formed and strengthened through long-term potentiation,
and long-term potentiation alters the flow of information within the brain so that when we experience
something new, the brain is rewiring itself to store these new events in our memory.
So the way that information is stored can affect how well it is likely to be remembered, and there are four
types of encoding:
Visual Process of encoding images and visual sensory
information. Mental pictures. Temporarily stored in
iconic memory and moved into LTM for storage.
e.g. car, level, dog, truth, book, value
Acoustic Use of auditory stimuli or hearing to implant
memories. Aided by the phonological loop.
Elaborative Uses information already known and relates it to
new information being experienced.
Semantic Use of sensory input that has a specific meaning or
can be applied to a context. Chunking and
mnemonics (e.g.acronyms) aid semantic coding.
Organisational
Consolidation (strengthening)
Every single experience that we have changes our brains, experiences leave what we would call memory
traces. This happens through a process of consolidation. The more you consolidate information, the easier
it is to recall and you're more likely to recall it with greater accuracy.
So the more you think about the memory, the more you consolidate it and the easier it is to recall.
it is important to note that memory traces are not perfect and we always have errors in our memory. So
instead when we remember past events, we reconstruct them with the aid of our memory traces, but also
with our current beliefs of what happened. there are a lot of external things that can influence this as well,
so memory is reconstructive and not reproductive.
