Memory

A detailed Summary of Memory


Memory is the capacity to store and retrieve information. In 1885 Herman Ebbinghaus a German psychologist, outlined a series of such extraordinary to motivate his new research with memory stating that when a person crams for a test they are more then likely not going to remember very much in a few days. Ebbinghaus's data added up to a convincing argument in favor of experimental exploration of memory. What was needed was a method, and Ebbinghaus invented an intelligent one. Ebbinghaus used nonsense syllables meaningless three-letter units consisting of a vowel between two consonants, such as CEG or DAX. He used nonsense syllables, rather than significant words, like CAT, because he hoped to retrieve a pure measure of memory, one uncontaminated by previous learning or associations that a person might bring to the experimental memory task. Not only did Ebbinghaus perform the experiment but he also used himself as a guinea pig. He performed the research procedures himself while also measuring his own performance. The test he had given himself was memorization of lists of varying length.


Ebbinghaus chose to use rote learning, memorization by mechanical repetition, to perform the task. To start the experiment Ebbinghaus began to read a list, reading each item one at a time until he was finished. Using the standard performance he began to read through the list in the same order over and over again, until he was able to recite the list in the correct order. After memorizing the list, Ebbinghaus then began to divert his attention to other lists memorizing them. Ebbinghaus measured his memory by seeing how many trials it took him to relearn the original list. If he needed fewer trials to relearn it than he had needed to learn it initially; information had been saved from his original study. Using savings as his measure, Ebbinghaus recorded the degree of memory remembered after different intervals. He found a quick initial loss of memory, followed by a gradually declining rate of loss. After Ebbighaus research, psychologists studied verbal learning for many decades by observing participants attempting to learn and recall nonsense syllables. By studying memory in as pure a

Some common words found in the essay are:
CEG DAX, Ebbinghaus German, , nonsense syllables, explicit memory, memory processes, information memory processes, personal collective past, collective past memory, past memory, collective past, implicit memory, trials relearn, implicit explicit, read list, information memory,

Approximate Word count = 734
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Miscellaneous

join now Save Paper

Related Essays

  • memory 1. There are many process of memory. ... Your shortterm memory STM has a limited time till the information is forgotten 1030 seconds. ... 778 words
  • memory Memory all aspects of our lives and can be thought of as the to retain information and demonstrate retention through behaviour. ... 539 words
  • Memory Memory is the process of storing and retrieving information in the brain. Memory is viewed as a threestep process, which include ... 638 words
  • Memory What exactly is memory In Book ... Augustine, Augustine examines what he believes the memory to be, and how it functions. Augustine first ... 885 words
  • memory NAME: EMMA BOSWORTH LECTURER: DR JIMMIE THOMSON CLASS: PERCEPTION AND COGNITION SID: 9912592 Herman Ebbinghaus 1885 wrote about memory and addressed issues ... 1046 words

Professional Essays

  • Memory I. Abstract Memory is fundamental to human life, and though its mechanisms have come under intense scrutiny over the last half century, much still remains a ... 3930 words
  • Olfactory Memory ... Researchers have pinpointed conditions that facilitate the relationship between memory and cognition. If the smell is present during ... 494 words
  • The Concept of Working Memory The concept of working memory was suggested by Baddeley and developed by Baddeley and Hitch, among others. ... Working memory has a threecomponent memory system. ... 782 words
  • HUMAN MEMORY HUMAN MEMORY Introduction The purpose of this paper is to present an indepth treatment of current theory and research on human memory. ... 2617 words
  • HUMAN MEMORY HUMAN MEMORY Introduction The purpose of this paper is to present an indepth treatment of current theory and research on human memory. ... 2730 words
  • The Nature of Memory What is memory Neimark 1995 reports on memory. As stated by a neuroscientist, ampquotmemory is an ability to repeat a performance with mistakesampquot p. 87. ... 2401 words


Saved Paper

Save your papers so you can locate them quickly!

Newest Essays

Testimonials

  • "Thank You So Much!!! You have saved me once again!!!"
    Jack M.
  • "With so many papers to chose from, I was able to get ideas to help me with all of my classes. Thank You!"
    Brian P.
  • "I've used this site for the last 3 years to help me come up with ideas for my papers."
    Sara J.
  • "I use this site every week to help me write my own papers!"
    Rachel W.
  • "I love this site!!!"
    Marie N.
Home Join Now Support
Acceptable Use Policy About us FAQ
All papers are for research and reference purposes only!
© 2002-2009 DirectEssays.com. All Rights Reserved.