1. The ability to retain information
Storage
The ability to retain information

2. Quick Review Sensory Memory Short-term (Working) Memory
Long-term Memory

3. Sensory Memory Information stays for only a moment Iconic memory
Momentary visual memory, like a photograph
Only lasts a couple of tenths of a second
Echoic memory
Minds echo chamber (about 3-4 seconds)
Couple of the last words
How does this relate to taking notes in class?

4. Working/Short-term Memory
Working space for information
Can be from long-term memory or novel info.
Nearly immediate decay (3 seconds)
Total loss without rehearsal (by about 18 seconds)
Limited capacity
7+/- 2
About 4 chunks of information

5. Long-term Memory Nearly unlimited capacity Our amazing memory:
Average adult has about 1 billion bits of info.
Can contain more than a thousand times that amount of information
Our amazing memory:

6. Storing Memories in the Brain

7. Synaptic Changes
It has been extremely difficult to “locate” where memories are stored
A memory trace (the pathway of a stored memory) seems to start at the synapse
Lots of activity = stronger and greater connections
Neural pathways can be hardwired or made very efficient with higher levels of seretonin
They work better the more they are used (neural networks)
This is called long-term potentiation (LTP)

8. Stress and Memories
Hormones can increase our ability to store highly emotional events
Prolonged stress can actually decay memory
Stress hormones can also block older, stored memories

9. Types of L-T Memory

10. Types of L-T Memory Implicit memory Explicit memory
Process memory or “how to”
Cerebellum involved in implicit memories (classical conditioning)
Explicit memory
Declarative memory or “I know …”
Recall of learning
Hippocampus seems to be involved in explicit memory
Left = language probs & Right = visual info. prob.s