Memory

Sandra CortezMcElmoyl

Psychology MT4

Physical Location of Memory • The hippocampus is were

we form, organize and store memory

• Since both sides of the brains are the hippocampus can be found on each side

• If you damage both hippocampus you can lose the ability to form new memories

3 Stages of Memory

• Encoding: is the first step of creating new memory

• It allows the item of interest to be changed to a construct that can be stored in the brain

• Mentally processing information so it can be entered into memory

• Storage: Holding the information for a period of time in short term or long term memory depending on the importance, attitude or experience

• Retrieval: Accessing or recalling memories when needed

The 3 stages of memory formation

• Sensory Memory• Short-Term

Memory • Long-Term

Memory

Sensory Memory

• Sensory Memory is the first level of memory

• Capable of retaining information for a very short time

• Vision system still kind of remembers image while hearing retains sounds for a few more seconds

• Sensory Memories is divided into two forms

• Iconic Memories • Echoic Memories• Iconic is a visual

representation• Echoic is sound

Shorty-Term Memory

• Also known as “working Memory”

• Holds information we are currently thinking about

• We are limited in capacity to seven items

• Practicing this information can help continue on the next stage

Long-Term Memory

• Is the ability to store more information for a long period of time

• Items held in long-term memory are held almost permanently

• Phone numbers • Names• Addresses

3 Categories of Long-Term Memories

• Episodic Memories: life experiences

• Sematic Memories: considered declarative memory involves information/knowledge

• Procedural/Implicate Memories: incognitos ability to retrieve information about how to preform a task

Forgetting

• Forgetting is when one fails to retrieve information that we know is stored in the memory

• Why we fail to store may be because we have not encoded properly not making it into long-term memory

• Also interference may be a factor of forgetting because when information is similar to other information they can interfere with other memories

• Memory will begin to fade over time and disappear over time if they have not been used or reviewed

3 Types of Amnesia • Amnesia is memory loss

usually caused by physical damage to the brain or when oxygen is cut off the brain

• Retrograde amnesia: head trauma blocks memories before the accident

• Anterograde amnesia: not able to store memory after the accident

• Dissociative or psychogenic amnesia

Elaborative vs. Maintenance Rehearsal

• Maintenance Rehearsal is when you repeat things over and over so you can try and hold the information

• Elaborative Rehearsal is thinking of a meaning to what you are trying to remember instead of just repeating the work over and over

Ways to Improve Memory

• Stay mentally active: just like you exercise the body exercise the brain you can try crossword puzzles, reading or even try musical instruments

• Socialize regularly: interacting with loved ones can help stress and depression which contribute to memory loss

• Be organized:

• Focus: limit distractions by not doing to many things at once

• Eat a healthy diet: never skip breakfast

• Exercise regularly• Manage chronic

conditions

How Accurate is Memory

• Most people think that memory is like a book

• Scientist have found that human memory changes constantly

• Memories lose details and become distorted as time passes also known as memory Decay

How does Aging Affect Memory?

• As people get older they tend to lose their memory especially short-term memory because they lose 20 percent of the nerve connected to the hippocampus

• They have a more difficult time remembering recent things but they might remember very well what happened 40 years ago

Citations • "Basic Memory Processes." Basic Memory Processes. N.p.,

n.d. Web. 11 Jan. 2014.• "Memory Loss: 7 Tips to Improve Your Memory." - Mayo

Clinic. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Jan. 2014. • "THE BRAIN FROM TOP TO BOTTOM." THE BRAIN FROM

TOP TO BOTTOM. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Jan. 2014.• "The Human Memory - What It Is, How It Works and How

It Can Go Wrong." The Human Memory - What It Is, How It Works and How It Can Go Wrong. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Jan. 2014.

• "Way More than Your Textbook." Boundless. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Jan. 2014.