RetrievalRetrieval

Memory RetrievalMemory Retrieval

To retrieve a memory you must first have To retrieve a memory you must first have some kind of some kind of retrieval cueretrieval cue

Examples?Examples?

RetrievalRetrieval

Activating one strand of a Activating one strand of a schematic memory is called schematic memory is called primingpriming.. Mnemonic devices encoding and mnemonic Mnemonic devices encoding and mnemonic

retrievalretrieval

Forgetting as Retrieval error.Forgetting as Retrieval error.

If we cannot remember If we cannot remember something, it could be that:something, it could be that: never encodednever encoded difficulty retrieving itdifficulty retrieving it

• InterferenceInterference of other memories are of other memories are common retrieval errors.common retrieval errors.

Memory Construction is like a Memory Construction is like a mosaicmosaic

Our memories are what we encode as well Our memories are what we encode as well as as howhow we retrieve them. we retrieve them.

Remember we encode information Remember we encode information semanticallysemantically and may and may fill in the blanksfill in the blanks with with details that aren’t correct, or color the memory details that aren’t correct, or color the memory by the mood we are in. by the mood we are in.

Memory Construction: like a mosaicMemory Construction: like a mosaic

Déjà vuDéjà vu is often caused by the firing of network is often caused by the firing of network by a cue that makes you by a cue that makes you believebelieve you’ve you’ve experienced the whole picture before,experienced the whole picture before, recall vs. recognitionrecall vs. recognition

Tip of TongueTip of Tongue

Problem of retrievalProblem of retrieval

RetrievalRetrieval

Context effectContext effect: Putting yourself back : Putting yourself back into the context where a memory was into the context where a memory was formed may trigger that memory. formed may trigger that memory.

Going by an old house, a smell of perfume Going by an old house, a smell of perfume from a former girlfriend, or the smell of from a former girlfriend, or the smell of autumn football, may bring back a flood of autumn football, may bring back a flood of memories. memories.

RetrievalRetrieval State dependent memoryState dependent memory: the : the

state we are in influences the state we are in influences the memories that are retrieved. memories that are retrieved.

When sad, happy, drunk whatever, When sad, happy, drunk whatever, these become a these become a retrieval cue.retrieval cue.

Mood Congruence: Mood Congruence: when sad, we are likely to remember when sad, we are likely to remember

events as being sadder than we thought events as being sadder than we thought at the time or happier if happy.at the time or happier if happy.

Source AmnesiaSource Amnesia

Where we got a memory from, Where we got a memory from, the the sourcesource, one of weakest areas of memory., one of weakest areas of memory.

Child studiesChild studies Piaget?Piaget? Neuro brain development?Neuro brain development?

Misinformation EffectMisinformation Effect

Similarly, we can encode a false memory if we Similarly, we can encode a false memory if we are led to believe something occurred that didn’t. are led to believe something occurred that didn’t. That memory will become just as real as memory of That memory will become just as real as memory of

an event that actually occurred. an event that actually occurred.

We also fill in the gaps when retrieving We also fill in the gaps when retrieving memoriesmemories retrieval cues offered can change the memory as it retrieval cues offered can change the memory as it

comes out. comes out. Retrieval activityRetrieval activity

Eyewitness MemoryEyewitness Memory

Because of source amnesia and Because of source amnesia and misinformation effect, eyewitness misinformation effect, eyewitness memories are notoriously bad. memories are notoriously bad.

Elizabeth Loftus: EyewitnessElizabeth Loftus: Eyewitness

Faculty recall confabulationFaculty recall confabulation

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcywPdhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcywPdORySAORySA