Long Term Memory Psychology, Unit 5
Today’s Objectives 1. Distinguish STM from LTM (capacity, encoding, maintenance etc) 2. Apply the serial position effect to your memory 3. Know the 4 types of LTM and apply them to your LTM 4. Distinguish Explicit from Implicit memories 5. Apply “priming” to your memory
Long Term Memory The portion of memory that is more or less permanent, corresponding to everything that we “know.” The portion of memory that is more or less permanent, corresponding to everything that we “know.”
Capacity of LTM LTM has a nearly limitless storage capacity LTM has a nearly limitless storage capacity LTM can be retained for a lifetime (barring illness, brain injury, or chemical interference) LTM can be retained for a lifetime (barring illness, brain injury, or chemical interference)
Encoding to LTM In addition to phonological memory and visual/shape based memory, LTM uses: In addition to phonological memory and visual/shape based memory, LTM uses: Olfactory: smell related/triggered Olfactory: smell related/triggered Verbatim memory: word for word (Pledge, National Anthem, etc) Verbatim memory: word for word (Pledge, National Anthem, etc) Summaries: main ideas are extracted for understanding Summaries: main ideas are extracted for understanding
Maintaining LTM Rote rehearsal: repeat over and over (only 1 that can work to extend STM too) Rote rehearsal: repeat over and over (only 1 that can work to extend STM too) Elaborative rehearsal: linking new info to familiar LTM Elaborative rehearsal: linking new info to familiar LTM Schema: a set of beliefs or expectations based on past experience that allows you to infer about new info Schema: a set of beliefs or expectations based on past experience that allows you to infer about new info
Schema (prior LTM regarding the components of a face) cause us to infer that this is a face, when, in fact, it is simply the word “liar” written in cursive.
Grocery List
Serial Position Effect When asked to remember a list, people tend to remember the beginning best, then the end, but rarely the middle When asked to remember a list, people tend to remember the beginning best, then the end, but rarely the middle Primacy effect: remembering the 1 st items best b/c you have time to rehearse them Primacy effect: remembering the 1 st items best b/c you have time to rehearse them Recency effect: remembering the last items b/c they are still available from STM Recency effect: remembering the last items b/c they are still available from STM
Types of LTM Episodic: personal memories based on events one has experienced Episodic: personal memories based on events one has experienced Semantic: encyclopedic info (how to spell, who was the 1 st president) Semantic: encyclopedic info (how to spell, who was the 1 st president) Procedural: motor skills and habits Procedural: motor skills and habits Emotional: learned responses/feelings- shame, fear, sadness Emotional: learned responses/feelings- shame, fear, sadness
Explicit vs. Implicit Memory Explicit: semantic and episodic; can be readily expressed and retrieved from memory Explicit: semantic and episodic; can be readily expressed and retrieved from memory Implicit: procedural and emotional; cannot be readily expressed or retrieved from memory Implicit: procedural and emotional; cannot be readily expressed or retrieved from memory
Priming Helps to distinguish between explicit and implicit memory Helps to distinguish between explicit and implicit memory “buried” Explicit Memory you need priming: hints that help you recognize the answer; ex: it begins with “P” “buried” Explicit Memory you need priming: hints that help you recognize the answer; ex: it begins with “P”
Exit Ticket 1. Draw a venn diagram on LTM and STM 2. List the 4 types of LTM and provide personal examples for each 3. Describe the difference between explicit and implicit memory