Memory 1.Outline what happens at the encoding stage of memory. At the encoding stage of memory sensory information

Memory

Outline what happens at the encoding stage of memory.

At the encoding stage of memory sensory information which is received and is changed (encoded) so we can make sense of it. Light waves are converted into images, sound waves are converted into words and words are converted into meanings.

How does information pass from short to long term memory?

Memory passes from short term to long term memory by means of encoding.

Describe one way in which short term memory differs from long term memory.

Short term memory can only hold 7± 2 items of information whereas long term memory capacity is infinite.

Explain how interference affects memory.

Interference can affect memory by in one of two ways:

Retroactive interference – occurs when information you receive later, interferes with your ability to recall something which you learned earlier. An example of this would be if someone knows how to use Microsoft Word software starts learning Lotus Notes; if they then try to go back to use MS Word they may find they can only remember how to do things ...

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Short term memory can only hold 7± 2 items of information whereas long term memory capacity is infinite.

Explain how interference affects memory.

Interference can affect memory by in one of two ways:

Retroactive interference – occurs when information you receive later, interferes with your ability to recall something which you learned earlier. An example of this would be if someone knows how to use Microsoft Word software starts learning Lotus Notes; if they then try to go back to use MS Word they may find they can only remember how to do things in the new software package, Lotus Notes.

Proactive interference – occurs when something you already know interferes with your ability to take in new information. Using the same scenario as above, you are trying to learn how to perform a function in Lotus Notes but you continue to perform the keystrokes which are relevant to MS Word. Another possibility of where Proactive interference occurs could be with prejudice attitudes, even though someone is continually reminded that being prejudiced is not acceptable, they are seem unable to learn to be unprejudiced.

Name one method for improving memory.

One method which is used to improve memory (mnemonics) is organisation in memory because information is remembered better if it is organised in a logical or structured manner. By organising the information you first have to think about it. This additional process helps retain the information as it acts as rehearsing and it also makes links between parts of the information.

6. Describe how that method can be used to improve memory.

There are several ways of organising memory, some of these are:

Hierarchical organisation – starting with a general category which is them divided into several sub-categories, which are in turn subdivided into more specific information.

Mapping – if you create a mind map you can see all the aspects of a topic and how they are related to each other visually. You can use this instead of a hierarchy when it is not possible to divide the material into neat subdivisions.