FORGETTING

KEY TERMS

Recovered memories. Repressed memories associated with child sexual abuse

- FORGETTING: the loss of the ability to recall or recognize something previously learned

- DISPLACEMENT: items currently in STM are pushed out to make room for incoming new ones

- DECAY: the memory trace fades away with time so that the memory is no longer available

- INTERFERENCE: memory traces are disrupted or obscured by other information

- RETRIEVAL FAILURE: items stored in LTM cannot be accessed because no suitable retrieval cues are available

- FLASHBULB MEMORY: a vivid, long-lasting memory of a highly significant event accompanied by recollection of details such as where we heard the news and what we were doing at the time

- REPRESSION: an unconscious process in which a distressing memory or impulse is excluded from conscious awareness

SHORT-TERM MEMORY (STM)

EMOTION AND

FORGETTING

Memory is better for material that fits a persons current mood

LONG-TERM MEMORY (LTM)

Displacement in STM

Material currently circulating in STM which has been insufficiently processed to pass on to LTM, will be pushed out or displaced by new, incoming information

Time

Faster rate of presentation of the digits produced better recall, which suggests that time may be an important factor in forgetting. With the faster presentation rate, earlier digits had less time to disappear from memory

Decay in STM

Information is forgotten because of the passage of time rather than because of the displacement of the memory trace. It is thought that some kind of structural change occurs in the brain when a memory is laid down.

Decay in LTM

Knowledge or skills that have not been used for a long time will eventually fade away. However skills that require motor memory, such as riding a bicycle or swimming, do not seem to be forgotten, even after long periods without practice. This lack of forgetting does not, however, seem to be true of all skills.

Interference in LTM(

If interference is the major cause of forgetting in LTM, it should be the case that people will remember things over time provided no interfering material intervenes. It is clearly difficult to create a situation where human participants are isolated after learning with no opportunity for any intervening new learning. Instead researchers have turned their attention to looking at effects of different types of interfering material on recall (rugby)

Retrieval failure in LTM

Forgetting occurs because the correct retrieval cues are not available. (Tip-of-the-tongue)

Context-dependent retrieval((

Effects of the learning environment on recall

State-dependent retrieval

Internal environment (physiological state or mood) might also affect retrieval

Flashbulb memories(

Vivid, detailed and long-lasting memory of the circumstances surrounding a momentous event (11S)

Repression(

Unconscious process, which ensures that threatening, or anxiety-provoking memories are kept from conscious awareness (Freud)

Retroactive Interference

When new information interferes with old information

(New number supersedes old)

Proactive Interference

When an old memory trace disrupts new information

(Dialling old number)

Memory of pain. Memory at the time of birth