First Year Psychology Assignment: Memory, Learning, and Cognition

This psychology assignment explores key concepts related to memory, learning, and cognitive processes. The first question analyzes how color similarity in advertising leverages human information processing, focusing on the three-stage model of memory (sensory, short-term, and long-term) and the Gestalt theory of design principles like similarity. The second question addresses cognitive overload, defining its types (intrinsic, extraneous, and germane) and strategies to mitigate it, such as preventing encoding overload, utilizing retrieval cues (context-dependent and state-dependent memory), and preventing encoding and retrieval failures. The assignment demonstrates an understanding of how cognitive processes influence behavior and how to improve learning and memory retention.

Running head: 1st YEAR PSYCHOLOGY
1st year psychology
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

11st YEAR PSYCHOLOGY
Question1:
The brain of a human being acts like a machine. The attraction of viewers towards advertising
with color similarities can be explained through the theory of human information processing. The
human procession unit is a three state model that includes sensory memory, short time memory
and long time memory. While an individual notice an advertisement, the color of the banner
creates an impression about the advertisement in the subconscious mind of the viewers. The
dominant color of the advertisement stimulates the sensation of sight and gets stored in the short
term memory. The information that are found in the short term memory comes from paying
attention to the sensory memory. However, the duration of short term memory is highly limited
in case rehearsal is prevented. Hence in order to ensure longer memory duration, web designers,
uses color while designing the banner that is similar to the color of its main webpage.
According to Gesalt theory of design, human brain is capable of filling blanks in an picture and
create a whole which is greater than the sum of its parts. In conjunction with gestalt theory there
are six principles that include similarity, continuation, closure, proximity, figure/ground, and
symmetry and order. There are some newer principles associated with theory like Size and Shape
constancy and common Fate. According to the theory, human nature is to group similar elements
together regardless of their proximity. Elements that are similar and grouped together ensure a
visual satisfaction and hence is considered to be attractive. Thus it can be considered as a chief
reason behind color similarity in advertisement.
Question 2:
The term cognitive overload can be defined as situation when the brain fails to process
information due to excessive amount of information obtain from several tasks simultaneously.

21st YEAR PSYCHOLOGY
There exist three types of cognitive load, namely, intrinsic load, extraneous load and Germane
load. Intrinsic load is the effect on cognitive load when the complexity of the material is being
presented. Extraneous overload refers to the cognitive load that provides noting to the learning
experience and the Germane load is defined as things that assists the students in using ther
memory effectively for learning purpose.
The first strategy that can be used by learners to prevent cognitive overload is to prevent
encoding overload. This can be done by breaking complex topics into parts and memorizing the
same in order to ensure effective processing of the information. The second strategy in order to
prevent cognitive overloading is to use retrieval cues. Cues can be retrieved from both context
dependent memory as well as state dependent memory. Context-based memory in psychology is
the enhanced retrieval of similar events or information where the meaning involved in encoding
and retrieving is the same. A specific common example of working circumstances happens
where a person loses an object in an uncertain position (e.g. missing car keys). The mechanism
in which memory retrieval is the most effective is the State dependent memory or state-based
learning where a person is in the same state of consciousness as it was when memory was
created. The retrieval of information is found to be better given similar instead of different
contextual cues. The third strategy that needs to opt for preventing encoding overload is to
prevent encoding failure. The term encoding failure is defined as brain’s failure to create a
memory link. Another issues resulting in information overloading is retrieval failure. Retrieval
failure can be defined as the process of forgetting information from long-term memory. In order
to avoid this students, instead of cramming a night before examination should consider making
plan and space out exam preparation and ensure continuous revision.

31st YEAR PSYCHOLOGY