CP week 6

1. Short-Term
Working Memory

2. Human Memory: Basic Questions
• How does information get into memory?
• How is information maintained in memory?
• How is information pulled back out of
memory?
• Memory timeline
– Short term – recent?
– Long term – remote?
– Operational definitions

3. Memory
So how do we get information in to memory?

4. Memory Processes
Encoding
Storage
Retrieval
Echoic memory
Iconic memory
Short-Term memory
Working memory
Long-Term memory

5. Short Term Memory
A temporary store for holding small amount of information
in mind in an active, readily available state.

6. Short Term Memory
Serial Position Curve: Murdock (1962)
WHY??

7. Modal Model of Memory: Short
Term Memory
Proactive interference
• Duration

8. H.M.

9. Short Term Memory
Serial Position Curve: Murdock (1962)
H.M.

10. Capacity Limitations
• But # of chunks can alter this (based on amount of
information per chunk)
Short Term Memory

11. Modal Model of Memory:
Short Term Memory

12. Short Term Memory
Duration
• 20 to 30 seconds
• Depends…
–Whether information is rehearsed
– Whether there is interference

13. Judgment of Learning (JOL): estimates of how
well one has learned something
Nelson and Dunlosky (1991)

14. Shorter Term Memory
Results: Delay condition led to predictions that
were over 2 times more accurate

15. Working Memory
• System involved in holding information in mind
needed to complete complex tasks in the face of
interfering processes and distractions
• Composed of three components
– Central executive
– Visuo-Spatial Sketchpad
– Phonological loop

16. Stroop Task
Kane & Engle, 2001
Which condition should be less error prone?
What differences between groups do you expect?

17. Working Memory
Characteristics
• Domain specificity
– Separable forms of processing
• Word length effect
– Domain specific disruption
• Articulatory suppression
• Brooks (1968) V-S: “yes” or point
• Resource Limited (source of individual differences)

18. Working Memory
Characteristics
• Domain specificity
– Separable forms of processing
• Word length effect
– Domain specific disruption
• Articulatory suppression
• Brooks (1968) V-S: “yes” or point
• Resource Limited (source of individual differences)

19. • Coding
?
Modal Model of Memory:
Short Term Memory

20. Modal Model of Memory:
Short Term Memory

21. Working Memory
The Phono Loop and V-S Sketchpad
separable but work together
– DUAL CODE THEORY (Paivio, 1975)

22. Working Memory
Resource Limited (source of individual differences)
• State differences
– Situational demands can reduce amount of WM resources
available
• Trait differences
– Some individuals generally have more WM resources to
work with
• Emphasis is on limits in attention not # items stored

23. Measuring Working Memory
(12*5) – 3 = 24?
E
(4*8) -9 = 38
P
Recall?
T AG
W D E
(12*5) – 3 = 24?
E
(4*8) -9 = 38
P
Recall?
T AG
W D E
Complex SpanSimple Span

24. Working Memory
Is WM important? YES!
WM Predicts: reading comprehension, math
problem solving, vigilance, multi-tasking,
distractibility and fluid intelligence
Also associated with optimistic thinking, emotion
regulation, self control and happiness… and
more!