UNIT 3

Seite 1

Brain and Memory

Memory

Invloves ENCODING, STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL of information

All information entering the brain passes through the sensory memory and enters short term memory - Then information can either pass to long term memory or be discarded.

1. Sensory Memory- retains all visual and auditory input recieved for a few seconds - Only selected and sounnds are encoded into STM, the rest are discarded.

Encoding- become part of the memory the selected sensory image must converted into a form that the can process and store. This can happen through Acoustic encoding, Visual encoding and Sematic encoding.

Encoding leads to Storage of informationa that can be Retrieved later.

2 Short term memory- has a limitd capacity and holds information for a short time. Items are only held for a short period of tie and info in the STM will quickly disappear forever unless a concious effort is made to retain it. The memory span for short term memory is 7+/- 2 pieces of info and can only be held for approx. 30 seconds after which it will either be displaced or transferred to LTM.

REHERSAL- involves repeating info over and over again so it increases the length of time held in the STM which allows the transfer of info from the STM to the LTM.

CHUNKING- the capacity of STM can be improved by grouping info into a meaningful unit made up of several smaller units.

SERIAL POSTION EFFECT- Items at the beginning and end of list are the most remebered and fewer from the middle are recalled. Primary effect-