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Text 4 - Memory

Memory involves three key aspects: encoding, where incoming information is processed and transformed for storage; storage, concerning the nature and duration of memory stores in short-term and long-term memory; and retrieval, getting information out of storage, with short-term memory retrieved sequentially and long-term memory retrieved through association.

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36 views

Text 4 - Memory

Memory involves three key aspects: encoding, where incoming information is processed and transformed for storage; storage, concerning the nature and duration of memory stores in short-term and long-term memory; and retrieval, getting information out of storage, with short-term memory retrieved sequentially and long-term memory retrieved through association.

Uploaded by

M_Eddie
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Memory

For psychologists the term memory covers three important aspects of information processing:
1. Memory Encoding
When information comes into our memory system (from sensory input), it needs to be changed
into a form that the system can cope with, so that it can be stored. (Think of this as similar to
changing your money into a different currency when you travel from one country to another).
For example, a word which is seen (on the whiteboard) may be stored if it is changed (encoded)
into a sound or a meaning (i.e. semantic processing).

2. Memory Storage
This concerns the nature of memory stores, i.e. where the information is stored, how long the
memory lasts for (duration), how much can be stored at any time (capacity) and what kind of
information is held. The way we store information affects the way we retrieve it. There has been
a significant amount of research regarding the differences between Short Term Memory (STM )
and Long Term Memory (LTM).

3. Memory Retrieval
This refers to getting information out storage. If we cant remember something, it may be
because we are unable to retrieve it. When we are asked to retrieve something from memory, the
differences between STM and LTM become very clear.
STM is stored and retrieved sequentially. For example, if a group of participants are given a
list of words to remember, and then asked to recall the fourth word on the list, participants go
through the list in the order they heard it in order to retrieve the information.
LTM is stored and retrieved by association. This is why you can remember what you went
upstairs for if you go back to the room where you first thought about it.

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