The Science and Measurement of Memory

1
The Science and Measurement of Memory

• Measuring subjective experiences

2
Ways to Study Memory

• Clinical case studies
• The case of Henry M.
• The case of Dr. O.
• Animal models
• Radial maze
• Mouse models of molecular memory
• Human experimental laboratory studies
• Ebbinghaus

3
Beginnings of Memory Science

• 19th century psychologists measured the span of
  apprehension
• Hermann Ebbinghaus in 1885, published On Memory,
  and showed how to measure memory function in
  people

4
Ebbinghaus Memory Studies

• Introduced CVC syllables
• Introduced serial list learning
• Introduced savings measure
• Measured the first forgetting function

5
CVC Syllables

• Consonant - Vowel - Consonant Syllable
• DAQ
• KYJ
• LIP
• Can be created arbitrarily and mechanically
• Create lists without meaning

6
Serial List Learning

• Learn all items in list in correct sequence
• DAQ KYJ LIP WOV HUL SEK
• Criterion for learning
• 1 perfect recitation

7
Savings Measure

• Time for original learning (OL)
• Time for relearning (RL)
• Savings (( OL - RL ) / OL ) x 100

8
Ebbinghaus Forgetting Function
9
Measures of Memory Recall

• Recall
• Free Recall
• Recall as many items as possible, in any order
• Serial Recall
• Recall as many items as possible in order of
  presentation
• Cued Recall
• Recall items to cues

10
Measures of Memory Recognition

• Recognition
• Yes/No Recognition
• Presented with a single item, indicate if it was
  part of an earlier experience
• Forced Choice Recognition
• Presented with 2 or more items, select the one
  that was part of an earlier experience

11
Memory Since Ebbinghaus

• Endel Tulving
• New Materials
• words, pictures
• New Procedures
• recall, recognition
• New Measures
• p(Recall), clustering,

12
Types of Memory

• Semantic vs Episodic
• Declarative vs. Procedural
• Implicit vs. Explicit
• Tulvings 3 kinds
• anoetic
• not knowing (e.g., procedural)
• noetic
• knowing (e.g., semantic)
• autonoetic
• self-knowing (e.g., episodice)

13
Bowed Serial Position Curve
14
Other Characteristic Features

• Spacing Effect
• List Length Effect
• Levels of Processing Effects

15
Brain Mechanisms of Memory

• Short Term Memory and the diencephalon
• The case of Henry M.
• The case of N.
• Korsakoffs Syndrome
• Strategies and the Frontal Cortex