Psychology: Memory

• IMFORMATION PROCESSING THEORY
1. Information must be encoded to be processed by the brain
    a. Storage - retention of information
    b. Retrieval - accessing information
2. Three memory systems
    a. Sensory -literal copy of information - held for 1-3 seconds
    b. Short-term
      i. limited capacity - 7 + or - 2 items
      ii. information is held for 30 seconds when it is forgotten or further encoded and place in long-term
    c. Long-term
      i. unlimited capacity
      ii. information stored and retrieved by category
3. Forgetting
    a. In sensory memory - through decay
    b. In short-term memory
      i. limited capacity subject to "filling up"
      ii. can retain information through rehearsal
        (a) maintenance (rote) rehearsal
        (b) elaborate rehearsal - associating new with old information
    c. In long-term memory
      i. decay -information fades if not used
      ii. retrieval difficulty
        (a) interference - similar items interfere
        (b) motivated - conscious or unconscious "hiding" a memory
        (c) cue-dependent - unable to gain access to the information

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