Information Processing  psychologists refer to all cognitive and mental processes that occur in the brain as information processing.

Information Processing Central processing  The “storing and sorting of information in the brain (memory and thinking) Output  The ideas and actions that result from this processing Input  Information we receive from our senses

Input *All the information we receive from our senses If you take it all in you will be overwhelmed. Therefore….

 selective attention The ability to pick and choose among the different available inputs. The ability to pick and choose among the different available inputs. EX: At a party there is noise, smells, conversation etc, but you are still able to focus on what you wantEX: At a party there is noise, smells, conversation etc, but you are still able to focus on what you want Some inputs are more important than others Some inputs are more important than others Primary needs – food, water, etcPrimary needs – food, water, etc Strange or unusualStrange or unusual Interest – things that you are interested inInterest – things that you are interested in

 feature extraction Involves locating the outstanding characteristics of incoming information Involves locating the outstanding characteristics of incoming information Example:Example: Twins, unusual outfit or hairstyle Twins, unusual outfit or hairstyle Experience plays an important role in abilityExperience plays an important role in ability

Memory  Three types of memory:  sensory storage  short term  long term

Sensory Stage   Holds info for only an instant at the receptors

Short Term   Holds info for approximately 20 seconds   Can only hold 7-8 unrelated items (unrehearsed) Chunking Clustering

Long Term   Any storage from seconds on Indefinite

Output   Retrieving information   Stored info is useless unless we can retrieve it   Key to memory is ORGANIZATION

1. Recognition   “oh yeah syndrome”   Memory is organized in a way that makes recognition easy Multiple Choice   Info is often linked to many different categories/items in memory. The more links the better * Travel the road frequently

Recall   The active reconstruction of information More remarkable than recognition Involves knowledge, attitudes and expectations etc.

Confabulation   When a person re-remembers parts of a memory/experience and fills in the gaps by making up the rest

Eidetic Memory   “Photographic Memory” Incredible and rare

Forgetting   When information that once entered long term memory can’t be retrieved, it is said to be forgotten   Physical damage does permanently remove memories

  Short term and sensory storage quickly fade away or decay   Still uncertain if long term memories ever decay away   Some forgotten info can be retrieved through hypnosis, medication, and brain stimulation which suggests that they do not decay

Forgetting may be due to…  Amnesia  Interference  repression

  Amnesia Loss of memory functional (mental trauma) Organic (brain injury)

  Interference Memory being blocked by previous or succeeding memories Proactive – earlier memory does the blocking Retroactive – later memory does the blocking

  Repression Subconscious blocking of memories that are painful, unpleasant or undesirable Defense mechanism

Four Strong Influences on our ability to retrieve 1. Meaningfulness The more meaningful something is, the easier it will be to remember 2. Association More vivid memories when linked with items previously stored

3. Lack of Interference Good way to protect mind from this is to over-learn. Practice, practice, practice The more senses involved the better

4. Degree of original Learning The better you learn something the first time, the more information you’ll likely recall

Improving Memory   Techniques are based on efficient organization of the things one learns and chunking information for easier handling

Mnemonic Devices   Techniques for using associations to memorize information Ex: Every good boy does fine (or deserves fudge) My very elegant mother just served us nine pizzas Roy G. Biv Please excuse my dear Aunt Sally   Form mental pictures