RETRIEVING MEMORIES

Module 2.6

Learning Targets

• LT 2.6-1

​

• LT 2.6-2

​

​

​

​

​

Explain how external cues, internal emotions, and order of appearance influence memory retrieval.

​

Explain how retrieval practice strategies, such as the testing effect, interleaving, and metacognition, support memory retrieval.

Types of Retrieval�(a review)

• The process of getting information out of memory storage
• Recall—test of LTM that involves retrieving memories without cues, also termed free recall
• Cued recall—test of LTM that involves remembering an item of information in response to a retrieval cue
• Example: Essay, fill-in-the-blank, and short answer test questions test recall

​

• Recognition—test of LTM that involves identifying correct information from a series of possible choices.
• Example: Multiple choice and matching test questions test recognition

​

​

Retrieval Cue

• Retrieval Cue – a clue, prompt, or hint that can trigger the recall of a stored memory
• Example: 3 Associations Demo, Mnemonics
• Memories only appear to be forgotten. You are only lacking the right retrieval cue.

​

• We need cues to help us trigger our…
• Retrospective Memory – memories from the past
• Prospective Memory – our intended future actions.

​

Semantic Network Model

• Mental links between concepts
• common properties provide basis for mental link
• Shorter path between two concepts = stronger association in memory
• Activating one concept can spread and activate other associations.
• Think of our Spaghetti Demo in class to demonstrate this.

Priming

• Memoryless Memory – invisible memory without your conscious awareness
• Priming is influence of one memory on another without your awareness
• A type of implicit memory because it does not depend on awareness and is automatic

Perceptual Priming

• By showing you one thing, I can influence how you’ll see or perceive another based on your unconscious memory of the item I showed you.

​

• Here is a demonstration…

​

Perceptual Priming

• Can you identify the fragmented stimulus to the right?

Perceptual Priming

• What if you were shown the following slide earlier in the lecture?

View this example from Derren Brown – with his ad agency video – 6 min

Which retrieval cues work best? �Encoding Specificity Principle

– When conditions of retrieval are similar to original conditions of encoding, retrieval is more likely to be successful

Encoding Specificity Types

• Context effects—environmental cues to recall
• State dependent retrieval—physical, internal factors
• Mood Congruence—factors related to mood or emotions

​

Which retrieval cues�work best?

• Context-dependent memory - enhanced ability to retrieve information when you are in an environment similar to the one in which you encoded the information
• Better recall if tested in classroom where you initially learned info than if moved to a new classroom
• If learning room smells of chocolate or mothballs, people will recall more info if tested in room with the same smell
• compared to different smell or no smell at all

Retrieval uses your Senses!

• fMRI shows that when people memorized the label “dog” with the sound of a bark the auditory cortex activated when they retrieved it.
• Those who memorized the label “dog” to a picture activated their visual cortex when they retrieved it.
• Retrieving a memory reactivates the sensory area of the cortex that was involved when you first encoded the event.

State-Dependent Memory

• The enhanced ability to retrieve information when the person is in the same physical and emotional state they were in when they encoded the information
• If you are in an altered state of consciousness you will be more likely to remember things you learned or did when in that state again.

​

State Dependent Memory�(Drug Induced State)

Mood Congruence

• Type of State Dependent Memory
• Mood Congruence – Mood tends to evoke memories of when you were in that same mood.
• Positive mood will likely cause you to remember other times you were positive.
• Moods Modify Memory!

Mood Congruence effects

• Bipolar depressives
• Info learned in manic state, recall more if testing done during manic state
• Info learned in depressed state, recall more if testing done during depressed state

Serial Position Effect

• Serial position effect—tendency to remember items at the beginning and end of a list better than items in the middle.
• Primacy – beginning of list
• Recency – end of the list

​

Retrieval Practice Strategies

• Metacognition – Monitor and evaluate your learning – figuring out what you don’t know.
• Testing Effect – Repeating self-testing and rehearsal of previously learned material. Quiz yourself and then quiz yourself again!
• Interleaving – Mixing the study of different topics