How can we account for the speed with which we can accomplish this and many other cognitive tasks? The answer proposed by many psychologists is through parallel processing. This means that you must somehow recognize each letter and the patterns these letters make (specific words), and must do this for literally thousands of different words as you read. For instance, you are able to recognize each word very quickly (most of us can read several hundred words per minute) and to understand its meaning. Neural Network Models: Parallel Processing of Information:Īs you read these words, you are performing some amazing feats of memory. Let’s turn, to the modern view of memory-one that pulls together advances in memory research and in our understanding of how consciousness (including memory) emerges from the functioning of the brain.

In sum, the Atkinson and Shiffrin model linked the study of human memory firmly to the general information-processing perspective that is an important aspect of all cognitive psychology today. In contrast, merely repeating information silently to ourselves (maintenance rehearsal) does not necessarily move information from short-term to long-term memory. Unless we engage in such cognitive effort, information in short-term memory, too, quickly fades away and is lost. In contrast, information in short- term memory enters long-term storage through elaborative rehearsal-when we think about its meaning and relate it to other information already in long-term memory. So, where memory is concerned, selective attention-our ability to pay attention to only some aspects of the world around us while largely ignoring others-often plays a crucial role. Information in sensory memory enters short-term memory when it becomes the focus of our attention, whereas sensory impressions that do not engage attention fade and quickly disappear. How does information move from one memory system to another? Atkinson and Shiffrin proposed that this involves the operation of active control processes that act as filters, determining which information will be retained. And it is long-term memory that allows you to remember factual information such as the capital of your state, the name of the president. It is this memory system that permits you to remember events that happened a few hours ago, yesterday, last month-or many years in the past. Our third memory system, long-term memory, allows us to retain vast amounts of information for very long periods of time. This is the memory system you use when you look up a phone number and dial it. Short-term memory holds relatively small amounts of information for brief periods of time, usually thirty seconds or less. (As we’ll soon see, psychologists now usually refer to this kind of memory as working memory). If you’ve ever watched someone wave a flashlight in a dark room and perceived trails of light behind it, you are familiar with the operation of sensory memory.Ī second type of memory is known as short-term memory.

One of these, known as sensory memory, provides temporary storage of information brought to us by our senses. The model proposed by Atkinson and Shiffrin suggests that we possess three distinct systems for storing information. Taking note of this basic fact, Atkinson and Shiffrin went on to propose a model of human memory. (3) Retrieval- locating and accessing specific information when it is needed at later times.

Memory note sheet