State-dependent learning
Encyclopedia
State-dependent learning (state-dependent memory) is a notion that learning and recalling are based upon the physiological and mental state of the organism.
It has been very clearly demonstrated that things learned in one environment are best recalled when that environment is reinstated; and, moreover, this applies equally well to “internal” environments (or states) as it does to “external” environments.
" Dr. Abel informed me," says Mr. Combe (presummably George Combe
), " of an Irish porter to a warehouse, who forgot, when sober, what he had done when drunk : but, being drunk, again recollected the transactions of his former state of intoxication. On one occasion, being drunk, he had lost a parcel of some value, and in his sober moments could give no account of it. Next time he was intoxicated, he recollected that he had left the parcel at a certain house, and there being no address on it, it had remained there safely, and was got on his calling for it." This man must have had two souls, one for his sober state, and one for him when drunk.
They also clearly demonstrated that it was counter-productive to train people “on land” in activities and procedures that they would later exclusively perform underwater.
, intoxication, emotional state, and sensory modality. An example of this effect is transfer-appropriate processing
which is a strong positive effect on memory when the type of memorization and the type of recall are similar.
In neuropsychopharmacology
, state-dependent learning denotes the fact that information that has been learned while the animal is under the influence of a certain drug ("state") can only be recalled and used to solve a task when the animal is in the same state in which the information was learned, but not in a different, i.e., undrugged state (Colpaert, 1990 http://www.springerlink.com/content/p117614312310g03/ and Carlezone et al., 1995). (definition quoted from http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ejphar.2004.06.041)
A recently identified type of context-dependent learning
is the effect of language. Research by Marian et al. (2007) demonstrated that participants were more likely to identify an English answer to a question when asked in English and a Mandarin answer to a question when asked in Mandarin. This illustrates that the linguistic context of a memory may be encoded during learning.
It has been very clearly demonstrated that things learned in one environment are best recalled when that environment is reinstated; and, moreover, this applies equally well to “internal” environments (or states) as it does to “external” environments.
An Early Account
A very clear description of state-dependent memory is found in John Elliotson's "Human Physiology" (1835):" Dr. Abel informed me," says Mr. Combe (presummably George Combe
George Combe
George Combe , was a Scottish lawyer and writer on phrenology and education. In later years, he devoted himself to the promotion of phrenology. His major work was The Constitution of Man .-Early life:...
), " of an Irish porter to a warehouse, who forgot, when sober, what he had done when drunk : but, being drunk, again recollected the transactions of his former state of intoxication. On one occasion, being drunk, he had lost a parcel of some value, and in his sober moments could give no account of it. Next time he was intoxicated, he recollected that he had left the parcel at a certain house, and there being no address on it, it had remained there safely, and was got on his calling for it." This man must have had two souls, one for his sober state, and one for him when drunk.
External environment
When investigating ways of training deep-sea divers to perform certain crucial underwater tasks, Godden and Baddeley (1975, 1980) clearly established that things learned underwater were best remembered in an underwater environment (and, as well, also established that things learned “on land” were best remembered “on land”).They also clearly demonstrated that it was counter-productive to train people “on land” in activities and procedures that they would later exclusively perform underwater.
Internal environment
Goodwin et. al. (1969) and Overton (1968) clearly established that information gained in a drugged state may only be recalled when and if the individual's original internal “drugged” chemical environment had been reinstated.States
Factors affecting state-dependent learning may include: environmentNatural environment
The natural environment encompasses all living and non-living things occurring naturally on Earth or some region thereof. It is an environment that encompasses the interaction of all living species....
, intoxication, emotional state, and sensory modality. An example of this effect is transfer-appropriate processing
Transfer-appropriate processing
Transfer-appropriate processing is a type of state-dependent memory specifically showing that memory performance is not only determined by the depth of processing , but by the relationship between how information is initially encoded and how it is later retrieved...
which is a strong positive effect on memory when the type of memorization and the type of recall are similar.
In neuropsychopharmacology
Neuropsychopharmacology
Neuropsychopharmacology is an interdisciplinary science related to psychopharmacology and fundamental neuroscience...
, state-dependent learning denotes the fact that information that has been learned while the animal is under the influence of a certain drug ("state") can only be recalled and used to solve a task when the animal is in the same state in which the information was learned, but not in a different, i.e., undrugged state (Colpaert, 1990 http://www.springerlink.com/content/p117614312310g03/ and Carlezone et al., 1995). (definition quoted from http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ejphar.2004.06.041)
A recently identified type of context-dependent learning
Context-dependent memory
Context-dependent memory refers to improved recall of specific episodes or information when the context present at encoding and retrieval are the same. One particularly common example of context-dependence at work occurs when an individual has lost an item in an unknown location...
is the effect of language. Research by Marian et al. (2007) demonstrated that participants were more likely to identify an English answer to a question when asked in English and a Mandarin answer to a question when asked in Mandarin. This illustrates that the linguistic context of a memory may be encoded during learning.
See also
- Cue-dependent forgettingCue-dependent forgettingCue-dependent forgetting, or retrieval failure, is the failure to recall a memory due to missing stimuli or cues that were present at the time the memory was encoded. It is one of five cognitive psychology theories of forgetting. It states that a memory is sometimes temporarily forgotten purely...
- LearningLearningLearning is acquiring new or modifying existing knowledge, behaviors, skills, values, or preferences and may involve synthesizing different types of information. The ability to learn is possessed by humans, animals and some machines. Progress over time tends to follow learning curves.Human learning...
- ForgettingForgettingForgetting refers to apparent loss of information already encoded and stored in an individual's long term memory. It is a spontaneous or gradual process in which old memories are unable to be recalled from memory storage. It is subject to delicately balanced optimization that ensures that...
- Higher consciousnessHigher consciousnessHigher consciousness, also called super consciousness , objective consciousness , Buddhic consciousness , cosmic consciousness, God-consciousness and Christ consciousness , are expressions used in various spiritual traditions to denote the consciousness of a human being who has reached a...
- Cognitive advantages to bilingualismCognitive advantages to bilingualismHistorically, bilingualism was thought to be detrimental to a child's cognitive and linguistic abilities. However, more recent evidence suggests that bilingualism can actually bestow a set of cognitive benefits, and it may enhance literacy.-Old misconceptions:...
- Effects of alcohol on memoryEffects of alcohol on memoryEthanol is the type of alcohol found in alcoholic beverages. It is a volatile, flammable, colorless liquid that acts as a central nervous system depressant. Ethanol can impair different types of memory.-Neurochemistry:...
External links
- http://www.airlinesafety.com/editorials/PilotsAndMemory.htm
- http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2405/is_1_130/ai_98709929
- http://www.memorylossonline.com/glossary/statedependentmemory.html