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Introduction
1. CARS
2. Psych/soc
2.1 Sensing the environment
2.2 Making sense of the environment
2.2.1 Attention
2.2.2 Cognition, cognitive development and issues
2.2.3 Intelligence/intellectual ability
2.2.4 Consciousness and sleep
2.2.5 Conscious-altering drugs and drug addiction
2.2.6 Memory and processing, sensory and short-term memory
2.2.7 Working and long-term memory, forgetting
2.2.8 Memory dysfunction, neural networks and plasticity
2.2.9 Language
2.3 Responding to the world
2.4 Individual influences on behavior
2.5 Social processes and human behavior
2.6 Attitude and behavior change
2.7 Self-identity
2.8 Psych/soc factors affecting interaction and perception
2.9 Elements of social interaction
2.10 Understanding social structure
2.11 Demographic characteristics and processes
2.12 Social inequality
3. Bio/biochem
4. Chem/phys
Wrapping up
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2.2.6 Memory and processing, sensory and short-term memory
Achievable MCAT
2. Psych/soc
2.2. Making sense of the environment

Memory and processing, sensory and short-term memory

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Memory

Memory includes the processes you use to encode, store, and retrieve information.

Encoding, storage, and retrieval
Encoding, storage, and retrieval

Encoding: This is the first stage of memory. Sensory input is converted into a form the brain can process and store.

There are several types of encoding:

  • Semantic encoding focuses on words and their meanings. For example, people often remember words better when they can group them by similar meanings.
  • Visual encoding focuses on images. Concrete, high-imagery words like “car” or “book” are usually easier to recall than abstract words like “truth” or “value” because you can form a mental picture.
  • Acoustic encoding focuses on sounds. This is why rhymes and songs can make information easier to learn and remember.
  • Tactile encoding uses the sense of touch, such as remembering the texture of velvet.

The role of the hippocampus: The hippocampus is located in the temporal lobe and plays a critical role in processing sensory information. It helps connect new memories to existing ones and is essential for memory consolidation (transforming new information into long-term memory). Damage to the hippocampus, as in the case of the patient H.M., can prevent the formation of new declarative memories while leaving older memories intact.

Memory aids and strategies:

  • Mnemonic devices: Techniques that help you organize and remember information, such as acronyms or rhymes.
  • Rehearsal: Repeating information to help keep it in memory.
  • Chunking: Breaking information into smaller, manageable units.
  • Elaborative rehearsal: Linking new information to knowledge already stored in memory.
  • Depth of processing: Information processed more deeply - especially when it has personal relevance - tends to be remembered better.
  • Hierarchies: Organizing information logically to improve retention.

Storage: After encoding, information moves through several stages of storage:

Sensory memory: Very brief, initial storage for incoming sensory information.

Short-term (working) memory: Temporary storage where information is actively held and processed.

Long-term memory: More permanent storage, where information can be retained indefinitely.

Memory processes also include the primacy effect (better recall of information presented first) and the recency effect (better recall of information presented most recently).

Memory processes

  • Three stages: encoding, storage, retrieval
  • Encoding: converting sensory input for brain processing
  • Storage: maintaining encoded information over time

Types of encoding

  • Semantic: meaning of words
  • Visual: images and mental pictures
  • Acoustic: sounds, rhymes, songs
  • Tactile: touch and texture

Hippocampus and memory

  • Located in temporal lobe
  • Essential for memory consolidation (short-term to long-term)
  • Damage impairs new declarative memory formation

Memory aids and strategies

  • Mnemonic devices: acronyms, rhymes
  • Rehearsal: repetition for retention
  • Chunking: grouping info into manageable units
  • Elaborative rehearsal: linking new info to existing knowledge
  • Depth of processing: deeper, personal processing improves memory
  • Hierarchies: logical organization aids recall

Stages of memory storage

  • Sensory memory: brief, initial sensory storage
  • Short-term (working) memory: temporary, active processing
  • Long-term memory: permanent, indefinite storage

Serial position effects

  • Primacy effect: better recall for first items
  • Recency effect: better recall for last items

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Memory and processing, sensory and short-term memory

Memory

Memory includes the processes you use to encode, store, and retrieve information.

Encoding: This is the first stage of memory. Sensory input is converted into a form the brain can process and store.

There are several types of encoding:

  • Semantic encoding focuses on words and their meanings. For example, people often remember words better when they can group them by similar meanings.
  • Visual encoding focuses on images. Concrete, high-imagery words like “car” or “book” are usually easier to recall than abstract words like “truth” or “value” because you can form a mental picture.
  • Acoustic encoding focuses on sounds. This is why rhymes and songs can make information easier to learn and remember.
  • Tactile encoding uses the sense of touch, such as remembering the texture of velvet.

The role of the hippocampus: The hippocampus is located in the temporal lobe and plays a critical role in processing sensory information. It helps connect new memories to existing ones and is essential for memory consolidation (transforming new information into long-term memory). Damage to the hippocampus, as in the case of the patient H.M., can prevent the formation of new declarative memories while leaving older memories intact.

Memory aids and strategies:

  • Mnemonic devices: Techniques that help you organize and remember information, such as acronyms or rhymes.
  • Rehearsal: Repeating information to help keep it in memory.
  • Chunking: Breaking information into smaller, manageable units.
  • Elaborative rehearsal: Linking new information to knowledge already stored in memory.
  • Depth of processing: Information processed more deeply - especially when it has personal relevance - tends to be remembered better.
  • Hierarchies: Organizing information logically to improve retention.

Storage: After encoding, information moves through several stages of storage:

Sensory memory: Very brief, initial storage for incoming sensory information.

Short-term (working) memory: Temporary storage where information is actively held and processed.

Long-term memory: More permanent storage, where information can be retained indefinitely.

Memory processes also include the primacy effect (better recall of information presented first) and the recency effect (better recall of information presented most recently).

Key points

Memory processes

  • Three stages: encoding, storage, retrieval
  • Encoding: converting sensory input for brain processing
  • Storage: maintaining encoded information over time

Types of encoding

  • Semantic: meaning of words
  • Visual: images and mental pictures
  • Acoustic: sounds, rhymes, songs
  • Tactile: touch and texture

Hippocampus and memory

  • Located in temporal lobe
  • Essential for memory consolidation (short-term to long-term)
  • Damage impairs new declarative memory formation

Memory aids and strategies

  • Mnemonic devices: acronyms, rhymes
  • Rehearsal: repetition for retention
  • Chunking: grouping info into manageable units
  • Elaborative rehearsal: linking new info to existing knowledge
  • Depth of processing: deeper, personal processing improves memory
  • Hierarchies: logical organization aids recall

Stages of memory storage

  • Sensory memory: brief, initial sensory storage
  • Short-term (working) memory: temporary, active processing
  • Long-term memory: permanent, indefinite storage

Serial position effects

  • Primacy effect: better recall for first items
  • Recency effect: better recall for last items