Psycholinguistics - Lesson 12 - Memory

Summary

This lesson delves into the fundamental role of memory in linguistics, highlighting its importance for learning and daily functioning. It explains the processes of encoding, storage, and retrieval, detailing how information is transformed into visual, acoustic, or semantic codes. The script contrasts short-term memory's limited capacity and duration with the seemingly unlimited capacity and enduring nature of long-term memory. It also touches on the sequential retrieval of short-term memory versus the associative retrieval of long-term memory, emphasizing the impact of organization on memory retrieval.

Takeaways

• 🧠 Memory is essential for our daily functioning, allowing us to store and retrieve past experiences and plan for the future.
• 🔍 Memory involves encoding, storage, and retrieval processes, which are critical for information processing.
• 📸 Encoding can be done in three main ways: visually (pictures), acoustically (sounds), and semantically (meaning).
• 📞 An example of visual encoding is remembering a phone number by seeing it written down, while acoustic encoding involves repeating it to oneself.
• 🔊 Acoustic coding is the principal system for short-term memory (STM), where information is rehearsed verbally.
• 📚 Semantic coding, based on meaning, is the primary encoding system for long-term memory (LTM), although visual and acoustic coding can also be used.
• 🔢 Miller's 'magic number seven' suggests that short-term memory can hold between five and nine items, with each 'slot' accommodating a piece of information.
• 🌊 The capacity of long-term memory is considered unlimited, contrasting with the limited capacity of short-term memory.
• ⏳ Short-term memory holds information briefly, typically for about 30 seconds, whereas long-term memory can store information for much longer periods.
• 🔑 Retrieval involves getting information out of storage, and the inability to remember something may be due to difficulties in retrieval.
• 🔄 Short-term memory stores and retrieves information sequentially, while long-term memory does so through associations, which can be triggered by related contexts.
• 📝 Organizing information can facilitate retrieval, such as by sequencing in alphabetical order, size, or time.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the 12th lesson in cycle linguistics?

The main topic of the 12th lesson is memory, its structures, and processes involved in the storage and retrieval of information.

Why is memory essential to our daily lives?

Memory is essential because without it, we cannot operate in the present, think about the future, or remember past events, which is crucial for learning and functioning in our daily lives.

What are the three main aspects of information processing that psychologists consider under the term 'memory'?

The three main aspects are encoding, storage, and retrieval.

What is the purpose of memory encoding?

Memory encoding is the process of changing information from sensory input into a form that the memory system can cope with and store.

What are the three main ways in which information can be encoded in memory?

Information can be encoded visually, acoustically, and semantically.

How does visual coding help in remembering a telephone number?

Visual coding helps by storing the telephone number as an image, which can be seen and remembered from a phone book or written notes.

What is the principal coding system in short-term memory (STM), according to the script?

The principal coding system in short-term memory is acoustic coding, which involves rehearsing information verbally.

What is the estimated capacity of most adults' short-term memory, as suggested by Miller in 1956?

Miller suggested that the capacity of short-term memory is between five and nine items, often referred to as the 'magic number seven.'

How does the capacity of long-term memory differ from that of short-term memory?

The capacity of long-term memory is thought to be unlimited, unlike short-term memory which has a limited capacity.

What is the primary difference between how information is stored and retrieved in short-term memory versus long-term memory?

In short-term memory, information is stored and retrieved sequentially, while in long-term memory, it is stored and retrieved by association.

Why might someone forget why they went upstairs when they reach the top, and how can they remember?

They might forget due to the associative nature of long-term memory. Going back to the location where they first thought about the task can trigger the memory and help them remember.

How can organizing information help with retrieval from memory?

Organizing information in sequences, such as alphabetically, by size, or by time, can facilitate the retrieval process by creating associations that make it easier to recall.

Outlines

00:00

🧠 Introduction to Memory in Linguistics

This paragraph introduces the concept of memory in the context of linguistics, emphasizing its importance for learning and daily functioning. Memory is described as the process of storing and retrieving information, which is essential for learning and planning. The paragraph outlines the three main aspects of memory processing: encoding, storage, and retrieval. It also touches on different forms of encoding: visual, acoustic, and semantic, and provides examples of how we might remember a phone number using these methods. The role of acoustic coding in short-term memory and semantic coding in long-term memory is highlighted.

05:01

🔍 Differences Between Short-Term and Long-Term Memory

The second paragraph delves into the differences between short-term memory (STM) and long-term memory (LTM). It discusses the limited capacity of STM, which can hold about five to nine items, as proposed by Miller in 1956, and contrasts this with the seemingly unlimited capacity of LTM. The duration for which information is stored in each type of memory is also compared, with STM lasting for a brief period and LTM potentially lasting a lifetime. The paragraph further explains the retrieval process, noting that STM is sequential while LTM is associative, and that organized information can facilitate easier retrieval. It concludes with the idea that the way information is stored affects how it is retrieved, and gives examples of how associations can trigger memory recall.

Keywords

💡Memory

Memory refers to the cognitive process of storing, retaining, and subsequently retrieving information. In the context of the video, memory is essential for learning and functioning in daily life. It is the foundation for recalling past events, processing present experiences, and planning for the future. The script emphasizes the importance of memory in encoding, storing, and retrieving information, highlighting its role in processing vast amounts of data in various forms such as images, sounds, and meanings.

💡Encoding

Encoding is the process of converting information from sensory input into a form that can be processed and stored by the memory system. The video script discusses three main types of encoding: visual, acoustic, and semantic. For instance, remembering a phone number by looking at it involves visual encoding, while repeating it to oneself uses acoustic encoding. Semantic encoding involves storing information based on its meaning. The script illustrates these concepts by explaining how different types of encoding are used in short-term and long-term memory.

💡Storage

Storage in the context of memory refers to the retention of encoded information over time. The video script explains that the nature of memory storage includes aspects such as duration, capacity, and the type of information held. It distinguishes between short-term memory, which has a limited capacity and duration, and long-term memory, which is considered to have unlimited capacity and can last a lifetime. The script uses the example of Miller's 'magic number seven' to illustrate the capacity of short-term memory.

💡Retrieval

Retrieval is the process of accessing and bringing information back into consciousness from memory storage. The video script discusses how retrieval can be challenging if one is unable to access stored information. It contrasts the sequential nature of retrieval in short-term memory, where information is recalled in the order it was received, with the associative retrieval in long-term memory, which can be triggered by related cues or contexts.

💡Short-term Memory (STM)

Short-term memory, as mentioned in the script, is a temporary storage system that can hold a limited number of items for a brief period. It is often associated with acoustic coding, meaning that information is stored in the form of sounds or verbal rehearsal. The script provides the example of rehearsing a list of numbers or letters to remember them briefly, illustrating the principle encoding system used in STM.

💡Long-term Memory

Long-term memory is the memory system responsible for storing information over extended periods, potentially a lifetime. The script suggests that long-term memory uses semantic coding as its principal system, meaning information is stored based on its meaning. However, it also notes that information can be encoded visually and acoustically in long-term memory, providing flexibility in how information is stored and retrieved.

💡Capacity

Capacity, in relation to memory, refers to the amount of information that can be held in memory at any given time. The video script highlights the difference in capacity between short-term and long-term memory. While short-term memory has a limited capacity, typically between five and nine items, long-term memory is believed to have an unlimited capacity, allowing for the storage of vast amounts of information.

💡Sequential

Sequential refers to the order or sequence in which information is stored and retrieved. The script explains that short-term memory operates sequentially, meaning that information is stored and retrieved in the order it was originally presented. This is exemplified in the script by the process of recalling items from a list in the order they were heard.

💡Associative

Associative memory refers to the process of storing and retrieving information based on associations or connections between different pieces of information. The video script uses the example of forgetting why one went upstairs and then remembering by returning to the context or environment that triggered the initial thought, illustrating how associative cues can facilitate retrieval in long-term memory.

💡Semantic Coding

Semantic coding is a method of encoding information based on its meaning or significance. The script discusses semantic coding as the principal system for encoding in long-term memory, allowing for the storage of information based on its conceptual or contextual relevance. This type of coding helps in organizing information, which in turn aids in retrieval.

💡Acoustic Coding

Acoustic coding involves encoding information in the form of sounds. The script describes acoustic coding as the primary system used in short-term memory, where information is held by repeating it verbally. This method is illustrated through the example of rehearsing a phone number or a list of items to remember them temporarily.

Highlights

Memory is essential for our daily functioning, learning, and planning for the future.

Memory involves encoding, storage, and retrieval processes.

Encoding changes sensory input into a form the memory system can process.

There are three main ways of encoding: visual, acoustic, and semantic.

Visual coding involves remembering information seen, like a written phone number.

Acoustic coding is the repetition of information to remember it, the principal system in short-term memory.

Semantic coding involves remembering the meaning of information, predominant in long-term memory.

Long-term memory can also be encoded visually and acoustically.

Storage concerns the nature of memory, including duration and capacity.

Short-term memory typically holds between five and nine items, known as Miller's magic number seven.

Long-term memory is thought to have an unlimited capacity.

Short-term memory stores information briefly, while long-term memory can last a lifetime.

Retrieval is the process of getting information out of memory.

Short-term memory stores and retrieves information sequentially.

Long-term memory is stored and retrieved by association.

Organized information can help with retrieval, such as through sequences like alphabetical order.

The video aims to be beneficial for understanding the complexities of memory.

Transcripts

hello dear students welcome to another

lesson in cycle linguistics

this is the lesson number 12

which is going to be about memory so

memory basically is

um is is the term given to the

structures

and processes involved in the storage

and subsequent

retrieval of information okay memory is

essential to all our lives

so without memory of the past we cannot

operate in the prison or think about the

future

we would not be able to remember what we

did yesterday

what we have done today or what we plan

to do

tomorrow so without memory we could not

learn

anything so basically memory is involved

in

processing vast amounts of information

this information takes place or takes

many different forms so we store

information in the form of images sounds

or meaning for second language for

psychologists

the term memory covers three important

aspects of the information

processing these are

encoding storage and retrieval

we're going to see each one of them

so memory encoding when information

comes into our memory

system from sensory input of course

it needs to be changed into a form that

the system can cope with so that it can

be solved

okay so every day we hear information

and we say information

written or you know where they hear it

that is verbal or or written

so this information needs to be um

changed into a certain form so that it

can be solved

so there are three main ways in which

information can be encoded

that is changed either visual

okay in form of pictures

we have acoustic that is in the form of

sounds okay verbal

and then we have semantics that is in

the form of of meaning

so for example how do you remember a

telephone number

you have looked up in the phone book

if you can see it then you are using

visual coding so when you see

a phone that is written in your phone

book

that's you remember that or you store

that information

the phone number in the form of visual

okay so we

code it visually but if you are

repeating it

to yourself so you're pretty to remember

it you are using acoustic coding so you

repeat it

so that's sounds so when you repeat it

over and over

there you are using acoustic coding

evidence suggests that this is the

principle coding system

in short-term memory stm

is acoustic coding so when a person is

presented with a list

of numbers and letters they will try to

hold them

in in short-term memory by rehearsing

them so when you rehearse

something verbally that's you

that that is uh you store the

information in

short that is short-term memory

the principal encoding system is

long-term

uh in long-term memory at the end

appears to be semantic code

by means by meaning so however

information in long-term it can also be

coded both visually and acoustically

now storage this concerns the nature of

memory

stores example where the information is

stored

how long the term lasts for

exposure the duration how much can be

stored at any time the capacity of

information that can be solved and what

kind of information is

is held so the way we start information

affects the way

we retrieve it there has been a

significant amount of research

regarding the differences between

short-term memory

and long-term memory so most adults

most adults can store between five and

nine

items in their short memory miller 1956

puts this idea forward he called it

the magic number number seven

magic number seven so he thought that

short-term memory capacity was

seven plus or minus two etcetera items

because it

it only had certain number of slots in

which items could be stored

however miller did not specify the

amount of information that could be held

in each slot indeed if we can change

information for example together we can

store a lot more than information

a lot more information in in our

short-term memory

in contrast the capacity of long-term

memory is thought to be unlimited

you see so the the the short-term memory

is limited you only are able to store

a very short um you know number or a

very small number of of of items however

uh long-term memory is unlimited

information can only be stored for a

brief duration in

in in memory like 30 seconds after 30

seconds

but in long-term memory um this can

it can be you know it's it long-term we

can can last

can last a lifetime so that is

until until that

then we have retrieval so how we

retrieve information from the membrane

this suffers to getting information out

of storage

if we can't remember something

it may be because we are unable to

retrieve it

when we are asked to achieve something

from memory

the difference between short summary and

long-term memory become very clear

so that is short summary is stored and

received

uh sequentially so in short-term memory

you can

you can store and retrieve information

sequentially for example if a group of

participants

are given a list of words to remember

and then ask to recall the fourth words

on the list participants go through the

list in the order they heard

it and in order okay to retrieve

the information but long-term memory is

stored and

received by association so we have this

association

this is why you can remember what you

went

you could remember what you went

upstairs for if you go back to the room

where you first thought about it

sometimes

for example uh

you for example want to go upstairs to

to bring something

okay let's say you are downstairs so you

go upstairs to bring something but you

know

when you get to uh you know the second

floor you'll forget

why you're there so to

remember what you're there for you have

to go back

you're just going back where you were

that would trigger your memory again and

in your trip

and then you you retrieve the

information then you mean

you remember why you are therefore the

organized information can help at

retrieval

you can organize information in

sequencing in sequences

such as alphabetical okay so you you

organize information in terms of

alphabets or size or time

thank you very much for your attention

and i hope this video is very beneficial

and see you in the next video