Memory
Memory
Memory encoding
Encoding refers to how you transform a physical, sensory input into a
kind of representation that can be placed into memory. When
information comes into our memory system (from sensory input), it
needs to be changed into a form that the system can cope with, so
that it can be stored.
Think of this as similar to changing your money into a different
currency when you travel from one country to another. For
example, a word which is seen (in a book) may be stored if it is
changed (encoded) into a sound or a meaning (i.e. semantic
processing).
There are three mqain ways in which information can be encoded
(changed):
1. Visual (picture)
2. Acoustic (sound)
3. Semantic (meaning)
For example, how do you remember a telephone number you have
looked up in the phone book? If you can see it then you are using
visual coding, but if you are repeating it to yourself you are using
acoustic coding (by sound).
Evidence suggests that this is the principle coding system in short-
term memory (STM) is acoustic coding. When a person is presented
with a list of numbers and letters, they will try to hold them in STM
by rehearsing them (verbally).
Rehearsal is a verbal process regardless of whether the list of items is
presented acoustically (someone reads them out), or visually (on a
sheet of paper).
The principle encoding system in long-term memory (LTM) appears
to be semantic coding (by meaning). However, information in LTM
can also be coded both visually and acoustically.
Memory Storage
Storage refers to how you retain encoded information in memory.
This basically concerns the nature of memory stores, i.e., where the
information is stored, how long the memory lasts for (duration), how
much can be stored at any time (capacity) and what kind of
information is held.
The way we store information affects the way we retrieve it. There
has been a significant amount of research regarding the differences
between Short Term Memory (STM ) and Long Term Memory (LTM).
Most adults can store between 5 and 9 items in their short-term
memory. Miller (1956) put this idea forward and he called it the
magic number 7. He though that short-term memory capacity was 7
(plus or minus 2) items because it only had a certain number of
“slots” in which items could be stored.
However, Miller didn’t specify the amount of information that can be
held in each slot. Indeed, if we can “chunk” information together we
can store a lot more information in our short-term memory. In
contrast, the capacity of LTM is thought to be unlimited.
Information can only be stored for a brief duration in STM (0-30
seconds), but LTM can last a lifetime.
Memory Retrieval
Retrieval refers to how you gain access to information stored in
memory. If we can’t remember something, it may be because we
are unable to retrieve it. When we are asked to retrieve something
from memory, the differences between STM and LTM become very
clear.
STM is stored and retrieved sequentially. For example, if a group of
participants are given a list of words to remember, and then asked to
recall the fourth word on the list, participants go through the list in
the order they heard it in order to retrieve the information.
LTM is stored and retrieved by association. This is why you can
remember what you went upstairs for if you go back to the room
where you first thought about it.
Organizing information can help aid retrieval. You can organize
information in sequences (such as alphabetically, by size or by
time). Imagine a patient being discharged from hospital whose
treatment involved taking various pills at various times, changing
their dressing and doing exercises.
If the doctor gives these instructions in the order which they must be
carried out throughout the day (i.e., in the sequence of time), this
will help the patient remember them.