This document discusses the key components of human memory: 1) Information gets into memory through encoding. It is then maintained in storage and can be retrieved. 2) Sensory memory involves iconic and echoic memory which briefly store visual and auditory information. 3) Short-term memory actively holds a small amount of information for around 20-30 seconds through rehearsal before it decays. 4) Working memory involves the central executive and visuospatial and phonological loops to actively maintain and manipulate information needed for complex tasks. It has limited resources.

1. Memory I

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. And how do we get information from memory?
Encoding
Storage
Retrieval
Echoic memory
Iconic memory
Short-Term memory /
Working memory
Long-Term memory

5. Atkinson-Shiffrin Model

6. Sensory Memory: ICONIC

7. A F 2 H
4 T U 7
M R 9 P
Sperling Task: Partial Report
A F 2 H
“4…T…U…?”
M R 9 P
♪

8. A F 2 H
4 T U 7
M R 9 P
High tone
Low tone
Mid tone
Sperling Task: Partial Report

9. Sensory Memory
•Iconic (visual)
▪high capacity (~9 items)
▪very short duration (~1sec)

10. Sensory Memory: ECHOIC
Do you want to get a cookie?
Do I what?
Oh… a cookie, yeah sure..

11. Glucksberg & Cowen, 1970
“G8KAWHVXPECRT”“….QZ5M42F”
2sec300ms Etc..
Sensory Memory: ECHOIC

12. Glucksberg & Cowen, 1970
Sensory Memory: ECHOIC

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

14. Short Term Memory
Serial Position Curve: Murdock (1962)
WHY??
Proactive Interference:
If you call your new girlfriend
your old girlfriend’s name.

15. H.M.

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

17. Capacity Limitations
Short Term Memory

18. Modal Model of Memory:
Short Term Memory

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

20. 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

21. Working Memory
Characteristics
• Domain specificity
– Separable forms of processing
– Domain specific disruption

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