Lecture Notes on Memory Retrieval and Cues

Key Concepts

• Retrieval

  • The act of recalling information from memory.
  • Depends on cues present during encoding and retrieval.

• Types of Cues

  • Associative Cues: Associations formed during encoding, often unconsciously.
  • Priming
    • Activation of associations in memory without conscious awareness.
    • Example: If exposed to the word "rabbit," more likely to associate "hare" with rabbit rather than hair.

Context-Dependent Memory

• The context or environment of learning affects retrieval ability.
• Study Example:
  • Scuba divers learning and being tested either underwater or on land.
  • Better performance when learning and testing environments match.
• Strategy:
  • Study in multiple locations to build a variety of retrieval cues.

State-Dependent Memory

• Internal States

  • Mood or state of intoxication affects retrieval.

• Intoxication

  • Learning while drunk leads to better retrieval when drunk again, but learning sober is more effective.

• Mood as a Cue

  • Mood affects recall of past experiences in similar moods.
  • Example: Depression can lead to a cycle of negative recall.
  • Positive mood can enhance recall of happy experiences.

• Advertisements and Mood

  • Products associated with a mood can trigger related retrieval cues, affecting consumer behavior.

Summary

• Understanding retrieval cues can improve memory recall.
• Different cues (associative, context, state) can either help or hinder memory performance.