Psychology 3717 Dr. David Brodbeck

Introduction Memory is a part of cognitive psychology Memory is a part of cognitive psychology So, let’s start by defining cognition So, let’s start by defining cognition Matlin (1994) Matlin (1994) Cognition, or mental activity involves the acquisition, storage, retrieval and use of knowledge Cognition, or mental activity involves the acquisition, storage, retrieval and use of knowledge Gietman (1984) Gietman (1984) What organisms know and how they know it What organisms know and how they know it

More definitions Ellis and Hunt (1983) Ellis and Hunt (1983) Cognitive psychology proceeds with its study of mental functioning through the scientific method… Cognitive psychology proceeds with its study of mental functioning through the scientific method… Tulving (1972) Tulving (1972) One of the unmistakable characteristics of an immature science is [its] looseness of definitions One of the unmistakable characteristics of an immature science is [its] looseness of definitions

You have to think about these ideas in terms of the study of memory There are some commonalities about these definitions There are some commonalities about these definitions Pattern recognition for example Pattern recognition for example Attention Attention Knowledge about the world Knowledge about the world Autobiographical events Autobiographical events imagery imagery

More commonalities Problem solving Problem solving Creativity Creativity You need to use memory, indeed to acquire, store and retrieve information in order to do any of these things You need to use memory, indeed to acquire, store and retrieve information in order to do any of these things We can look at memory as the persistence of learning We can look at memory as the persistence of learning

Pretty much everything we do as humans needs the use of memory Pretty much everything we do as humans needs the use of memory So without memory we could not do those other cognitive things So without memory we could not do those other cognitive things It may be said that memory is the core of cognition It may be said that memory is the core of cognition

Question about memory All science begins with the statement ‘I do not know’ All science begins with the statement ‘I do not know’ Are memories permanent? Are memories permanent? Where are they stored? Where are they stored? Can I improve my memory? Can I improve my memory? How are they stored? How are they stored? If I forget stuff is it really gone? If I forget stuff is it really gone? Is our memory similar to other species? Is our memory similar to other species?

There is a catch We of course want to study it scientifically We of course want to study it scientifically Science is about measurement, control and prediction Science is about measurement, control and prediction Science is about experimentation Science is about experimentation Science is about cause -> effect relationships Science is about cause -> effect relationships How do we measure and control something we ‘can’t kick?’ How do we measure and control something we ‘can’t kick?’

Operationalize! We have to say we will measure variable A, which we believe to be correlated with memory or the result thereof We have to say we will measure variable A, which we believe to be correlated with memory or the result thereof So, percentage of words recalled So, percentage of words recalled Word fragments completed Word fragments completed Types of errors made Types of errors made

analogies Wax tablet Wax tablet The sieve The sieve The library The library The workbench The workbench The network The network The filing cabinet The filing cabinet The computer The computer

What is common about those? Memory is seen as a thing Memory is seen as a thing A kind of space if you will A kind of space if you will Encoding Encoding Storage Storage Retrieval Retrieval (some have more of each than others) (some have more of each than others)

Attributes of memory Acquisition Acquisition Representation Representation Direct experiences are primary memory Direct experiences are primary memory Previous states, working on stuff with other info is secondary memory Previous states, working on stuff with other info is secondary memory William James said this and we still say it today! William James said this and we still say it today!

Ebbinghaus Three different ways of retrieval Three different ways of retrieval Recollect the past intentionally Recollect the past intentionally Unintentional too Unintentional too Memory can show up without awareness Memory can show up without awareness Again we still use distinctions like this today! Again we still use distinctions like this today!

Other attributes Memory can be reconstructive Memory can be reconstructive Basically memory is multidimensional Basically memory is multidimensional There are many forms, everything from knowing the capital of Viet Nam to knowing how to ride a bike to knowing what you had for breakfast (and knowing what breakfast is) There are many forms, everything from knowing the capital of Viet Nam to knowing how to ride a bike to knowing what you had for breakfast (and knowing what breakfast is)

Investigating memory There are some general principles There are some general principles Forgetting curve Forgetting curve Power law of practice Power law of practice Encoding specificity Encoding specificity Free recall Free recall Recognition Recognition Sentence verification Sentence verification priming priming

More investigations… Practice effects Practice effects Imaging Imaging Analysis of errors Analysis of errors

Models, Atkinson-Shiffrin Sensory Register Short Term Memory Long Term Memory

Neural networks Separate processors or nodes Separate processors or nodes Deal with recognizing different things, attributes, characteristics what have you Deal with recognizing different things, attributes, characteristics what have you Say from lines to letters to words to concepts Say from lines to letters to words to concepts Connections, MANY connections Connections, MANY connections

Other models Episodic v semantic Episodic v semantic Procedural v declarative Procedural v declarative Working v reference Working v reference Again, share some commonalities Again, share some commonalities

conclusions Memory is a diverse and exciting field Memory is a diverse and exciting field It is possible to measure memory, indirectly, and now, maybe directly It is possible to measure memory, indirectly, and now, maybe directly There is a place for the neuro types, but the psychologists still need to be around There is a place for the neuro types, but the psychologists still need to be around