The process of memory

The 3 fundamental and essential core

processes of memory
Atkinson-Shiffrin’s multi-store model of
memory
 Represents memory consisting of three separate stores component.

 Sensory memory, short tem memory (STM) and long term memory (LTM)

 Each stores and processes information differently and differs in terms of

function (purpose and role) and capacity (the amount of information it can
hold) and duration (the length of time it can hold information).
Atkinson-Shiffrin’s multi-store model of
memory
SENSORY MEMORY
Sensory Memory
 Entry point of memory where new incoming sensory information is stored for a brief
period.

 Information retained is assumed to be the exact copy of its original form (raw
sensory form rather than encoded form).

 Potentially unlimited storage

 Sensory information remains in sensory memory long enough for us to attend and
select the information to be transferred into STM for processing.
 Attention needs to paid to sensory information for it to be transferred to in STM.

 Stores sensory impressions long enough for each impression long enough for each
impression to slightly over lap the next. This helps ensure that we perceive the
world around us as continuous rather than as a series as disconnected visual images
or disjointed sounds.
 Pen example
There are two types of Sensory Memory
1. Iconic Memory

2. Echoic Memory
 Iconic Memory
 The brief sensory memory for incoming visual information

 STORAGE DURATION - Holds all incoming VISUAL information

(in original form for 0.2 to 0.4 seconds before any of it is
transferred to short term memory. This is long enough for us
to recognise and process it if attention is paid to it.
 CAPACITY – Vast, potentially unlimited.
 Not all incoming visual information is transferred to memory
(STM and LTM)
“You will not remember everything that you lay your eyes on”
Echoic Memory
 Brief sensory memory for incoming auditory information.
 Called echoic memory because the sound lingers like an echo.
 Stores sound in its original form.
 Example – Clap your hands.
 Capacity – Vast, potentially unlimited
 STORAGE DURATION - is 3-4 seconds (longer than iconic)
 Attention must be given to this sensory information for it to be transferred to STM.
 Longer duration of echoic memory is important
for understanding speech.
 Computer/time example
 Not all information that you hear is transferred to
memory.
 “You do not remember everything you hear”.
Purpose of Sensory Memory

1. Prevents the person from being overwhelmed by all the different visual and
auditory stimuli. All this information cannot be processed at once.

2. It gives time to decide if certain information is important. Information that

is deemed important is transferred to Short Term Memory.
SHORT TERM MEMORY
Short Term Memory (STM) AKA ‘Working
Memory.’
 STM is a memory system with limited storage and capacity.
 Memory is stored for a short time unless renewed in some way
 Information in STM is now encoded (not replica/raw information like sensory
information)
 For information to be stored from SM to STM, sensory info must be paid
attention to.
 For information to be stored from STM to LTM, it must rehearsed.
Duration and capacity
 DURATION:
 18-20 seconds
 Can be up to 30 seconds

 CAPACITY:
 5-9 items
 7 + - 2 items
STM AKA ‘Working Memory.’ Why?
 STM is also referred to as ‘Working memory.’
 This is to emphasise the active processing and use of information that occurs
there.
 Our working memory enables us to actively work on and manipulate information
while we undertake everyday tasks.
 Information from Sensory Memory is processed in ‘working memory (STM)
 Information is retrieved from long term memory to be used an manipulated in
working memory
 EXAMPLE – calculate the following: 17+5+12
 Working memory provides a temporary storage facility and mental workspace
for information currently being used in some conscious cognitive activity.
 Information only remain in working memory while we consciously process
examine or manipulate it. Once task has been achieved, the information stored
there is no long required and will either be stored in LTM or discarded.
LONG TERM MEMORY
LONG TERM MEMORY

Long Term Memory

Explicit memory Implicit Memory

(Memory with Memory without
awareness) awareness

Classically
Episodic Memory Procedural memory conditioned memory
Semantic Memory
Personal Experiences (Motor skills and (Conditioned
Facts and Knowledge
and events actions) response to
conditioned stimuli)
Long Term Memory

 Duration: relatively permanent

 Capacity: suggestibly unlimited
 Is organised and stored semantically
 Semantic encoding increases chances of correct retrieval
 Information retrieved through cues
-cues may be intentional or unintentional
 Difficulty with retrieval suggests poor organisation of info during encoding and
storage
 Forgetting due to:
- physiological factors like disease e.g Alzheimer's, damage, stoke.
- psychological factors like interference, retrieval failure, or poor encoding/storage
Explicit Memory (memory with
awareness)
 Explicit- requires intentional retrieval or conscious recall
 Controlled processing of memory (aware of processing)

 Memory of specific facts or events

 Often demonstrated through words or symbols.
 ‘Knowing that’
 E.g Knowing that STM and LTM are distinct memory stores
 Able to be tested by recall and recognition
 Includes both knowledge of the world and personal experience
 2 sub categories
- Episodic (personal/autobiographical) -Semantic (knowledge of the world)
 2 Types of Declarative Memory
Episodic Semantic
Autobiographical Knowledge of the world
- Personal experiences -Academic knowledge, specialised knowledge,
- Personalised memories of events rules/formulas, general knowledge

Memories associated with a time (when) and Facts do not depend on time and place
place (where)
Context
Influenced by psychological and physiological Not as influenced by the state of the person
state of the person when event occurred when the information was learnt
(unique to the individual) (knowledge not unique to the individual)
State

Retrieval more difficult than semantic Retrieval easier than episodic

E.g. How you felt when going to the dentist E.g. Times tables

Episodic and semantic systems often work together to form new memories
Procedural Memory
‘Implicit’
 Implicit- does not involve intentional or conscious retrieval
 Automatic- without awareness of processing

 Sometimes called skills or habits

 Demonstrated through actions, behaviour or performance
 ‘Knowing how’
 E.g Knowing how to ride a bike
 Often difficult to recall when or how we learnt to perform the action or actions
 Often involves a complicated sequence of movements that are difficult to articulate
 Note: damage to amygdala can result in difficulty with implicit (procedural) memory
Classically Conditioned Memory- ‘Implicit’

 Considered a type of implicit memory.

 A result of being classically conditioned to remember something and feel a
certain way when exposed to the stimulus
 Refer back to knowledge of classical conditioning.
What type of memories are these?

1. Knowing that short term memory has a duration of up to 30 seconds

2. Recalling how much fun I had at my 15th birthday party
3. Knowing how to ride a bike
4. Knowing that when my mum calls me by my full name, I must be in trouble
5. Knowing how to brush my teeth
6. Knowing that 2 X 5 = 10