Unit 2 Cognitive Psychology - Introduction to Memory

University:
Loyola University Maryland
Course:
PY 222 | Cognitive Psychology
Academic year:

2023
Views:

230

Pages:

4
Author:

Prince Sampson

UNIT 2: COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY 2.3: Introduction to Memory Without memory, how would we be able to learn anything? The ability to learn is the key to our very survival, and we cannot learn unless we can remember what happened the last time a particular situation arose. Why study forgetting? If we can learn about the ways in which we forget information, can we apply that learning so that unintended forgetting occurs less frequently? Effortful v. Automatic Processing ● Effortful processing is the active processing of information that needs sustained conscious effort. ○ requires attention, ○ it can be useful for learning new information, developing skills, or solving complex problems ■ For example, if you decide that you want to play a brand new musical instrument like the violin, it takes effortful processing to practice and rehearse reading a piece of music, figuring out different string positions, and moving the bow. ● Automatic processing is the unconscious processing of well-learned material. ○ similar to the term “muscle memory” because a task is performed habitually without significant thought. ■ Tying a shoe, riding a bike, or driving a car are all examples. Or consider an experienced knitter working on a scarf. Their mind can wander while simultaneously knitting because they have knitted scarves many times in the past, allowing them to work without actively paying attention What is memory? Memory = An active system that receives information from the senses, puts that information into a usable form, and organizes it as it stores it away, and then retrieves the information from storage ● Three Processes of Memory → getting the information into memory system, storing it, and getting it back out ○ 1. Encoding = The set of mental operations that people perform on sensory information to convert that information into a form that is usable in the brain's storage systems ■ act of getting information into our memory system through automatic or effortful processing ■ Maintain it in consciousness or prepare it for storage ■ Ex: When people hear a sound, their ears turn the vibrations in the air into neural messages from the auditory nerve, transduction, which makes it possible for the brain to interpret that sound ■ Encoding not limited to sensory information ■ Can be accomplished by rehearsing information over and over to keep it in memory or elaborating on the meaning of the information ○ 2. Storage = Holding on to information for some period of time /retention of information ■ Manipulation and rehearsal of info ■ Different lengths depending on the system of memory being used ■ Hold on for 20 seconds or more or less permanently ○ 3. Retrieval = Getting information that is in storage in a form that can be used ■ Biggest problem people may have - forget something important, remember after you hand in the test