Lecture 7: Memory as a Process

Lecture 7: Memory as a Process

1. Encoding

   • Levels of processing
     • Rehearsal
       • Elaborative
         • Deeper processing = better recall
       • Maintenance
     • Organizing information
       • i.e. chunking
       • Preventing organization of information can hurt encoding

2. Retrieval

   • Encoding specifity
     • Information is encoded along with contextual details 
     • EXTERNAL environment (i.e. water experiment)
   • State-dependent learning
     • INTERNAL environment (psychological/phsyiological state)
     • Mood congruency effects
       • Mood is a retrieval cue
   • Transfer appropriate processing
     • Information is encoded along with mental processes

3. Consolidation & Reconsolidation

   • Dual trace hypothesis
     • Simultaneous activation of two neurons promotes structural changes
     • Long-term potentiation
       • Enhanced firing of neurons after repeated stimulation
   • Consolidation
     • Process of solidifying memory traces in neural structures over very long periods of time 
     • Fragile memories
       • Retrograde amnesia
       • Anterograde amnesia
     • Sleep
       • Facilitates consolidation
       • Organizes information
   • Preventing memories
     • Memories are made of proteins 
     • Anisomycin prevents protein synthesis (and therefore memory formation)
   • Emotions
     • Emotions enhance memory (norepineprhine release)
     • Propanolol prevents release of norepinephrine (eliminates emotional memory trace)
   • Reconsolidation
     • Restructuring of memories after they've been brought back to STM and updated
     • Memory is malleable

4. Constructive Nature of Memory

   • Predict future
     • Based on past experiences
   • Schemas
     • Body of knowledge about some topic
   • Source monitoring
     • Process of determining the origins of our memories
     • Source misattribution
   • Errors in memory