Theories of forgetting (retrieval failure, interference theory, motivated forgetting, decay)

The features of the forgetting curve as ( the contribution of proactive and retroactive interference effects in recall)

Organic causes of forgetting (amnesia both anterograde and retrograde)

Memory decline over the lifespan

Memory enhancement though quality of encoding (organisation) and the use of context dependent cues, state dependent cues and mnemonic devices (narrative chaining and method of loci)

Theories of ForgettingTheories of Forgetting

Retrieval Failure Theory: Suggests that many memories are inaccessible because memory cues that were present when the memory was formed are missing when the time comes to retrieve it

Tip-of-the-tongue (TOT) phenomenon: Having the answer on the tip of your tongue, you know the answer is there but it is just out of reach

Theories of ForgettingTheories of Forgetting

Retrieval Failure Theory: Suggests that many memories are inaccessible because memory cues that were present when the memory was formed are missing when the time comes to retrieve it

Tip-of-the-tongue (TOT) phenomenon: Having the answer on the tip of your tongue, you know the answer is there but it is just out of reach

Retrieval CuesRetrieval Cues

Any piece of information that aids the retrieval of information stored in LTM

Experiment Look at the list of words. Provide

three words for each word that somehow relate to that word.

Place you name on your piece of paper and hand it to the teacher.

Interference TheoryInterference Theory

The tendency for new memories to impair the retrieval of older memories and vice versa

Proposes that forgetting in LTM results from other memories interfering with the retrieval of information targeted for recall, especially when memories are similar

Types of Interference Types of Interference Retroactive Interference:

Refers to the tendency for new information to interfere with the retrieval of previously learned information (think: retro = backward)

Proactive Interference: Refers to the tendency for previously learned information to interfere with the retrieval of recently learned information (think: proactive = forward)

Motivated ForgettingMotivated Forgetting Forgetting in LTM occurs

because of a conscious or unconscious desire to block out painful or threatening memories

Repression: Occurs unconsciously or without your awareness

Suppression: When you actively and consciously attempt to put something out of awareness – you could choose to remember it

Limitations to Motivated Limitations to Motivated ForgettingForgetting

Has not been extensively tested in laboratory

Other factors could account for memory loss such as a blow to the head or lack of consolidation

Decay TheoryDecay Theory

Assumes that when learning takes place a change occurs in the brain – a memory trace is formed (physical/chemical trace of the event)

Decay theory suggests that these traces disintegrate over time if they are not reactivated for use

- Only relevant to LTM

Limitations of Decay Theory Limitations of Decay Theory

Fails to explain why some memories fade and others are maintained for life

Doesn’t explain our ability to recover seemingly forgotten memories – this can happen through re-learning or a retrieval cue

The Forgetting CurveThe Forgetting Curve

There is a normal curve for forgetting new information

Hermann Ebbinghaus did experiment on himself using nonsense syllables

- After 20 mins he remembered 70%

- After 1 hour her remembered 54%

- After 1 day he remembered 38%

- After 2 days he remembered 28%

- After a month remembered 21

Forgetting CurveForgetting Curve

Rate and Amount of ForgettingRate and Amount of Forgetting

Curve is generally the same for a variety of materials but can vary

Semantic memories tend to be lasting

More meaningful information is also forgotten less easily

How well information is encoded influences rate and amount of forgetting – not affected by difficulty of information

Organic Causes of Forgetting Organic Causes of Forgetting When damage to the brain causes

abnormal functioning it is said to be organic eg: blow to head, stroke, tumour – these can lead to amnesia, a common form of memory loss

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmzU47i2xgw&feature=related

Amnesia: temporary or permanent, partial or complete loss of memory

- Organic = caused by damage to brain

- Dissociative = psychological trauma

Amnesia:Amnesia: Anterograde AmnesiaAnterograde Amnesia

Brain damage or trauma that causes memory loss for events occurring AFTER the amnesia (antero = forward)

Sufferers are able to retrieve LTM’s but are unable to form new ones

Extent of amnesia depends on the extent of the injury

Amnesia:Amnesia: Retrograde AmnesiaRetrograde Amnesia Memory loss for events

occurring BEFORE the amnesia (retro = backward)

Sufferers are unable to remember events or information related to the past but are able to form new memories

Alzheimers DiseaseAlzheimers Disease Permanent, progressive and

debilitating form of dementia that results from organic brain decay

Serious and permanent loss of intellectual capacity that results in confusion and loss of memory – especially for episodic and semantic memories

Considered to be age-related, but not always

- Read more on pages 256/257

Memory Decline over LifespanMemory Decline over Lifespan People remember more between the

ages of 10 and 30 – why?

- We experience new things

- Physical abilities are high

Young adults have better recall but recognition doesn’t decline with age

Age results in more errors in recalling meaningless information

Episodic memories more affected by age

Attitude affects memory recall in older people

Memory EnhancementMemory Enhancement Information not properly

encoded is more easily forgotten

Organising new information by connecting it to LTM’s increases retrieval chances

Attending to information ensures it will not be lost

Quality of encoding: Shallow: physical structure, Moderate: acoustic/phonetic qualities, Deep: links new to old

Retrieval CuesRetrieval Cues Encoding specificity

principle: the more closely retrieval cues match original condition the greater the chance of recall

Context-dependent cue: Our physical surroundings during the learning

State-dependent cue: The bodily state that exists during learning

Mnemonic DevicesMnemonic Devices Any kind of memory system or aid

- Imagery: mental representations or mental picture of something

- Mental association: creating connections between new and LTM’s

- Narrative chaining: links unrelated items to create a sequence of meaningful information

- Method of Loci: Mentally linking a serious of locations to information that needs to be recalled