Memory

Memory can be split into three components:1. Short term sensory stores 2. Short term memory 3. Long term memory

Short term sensory stores:- All the information goes through here and stays for up to a second.- Perceptual mechanisms decides what is relevant and the irrelevant info is disregarded.

Short term memory:-This is referred to as the "work place". Compares information that has come in from before "Have I been here before...". Generally the limit is 5-9 pieces of information up to 30 seconds. This can be increased by linking or chunking information together and remembering them as one piece of information. This can be extended if you rehearse or repeat the information.

Long term memory:- This holds information that has been well learned and practiced, its capacity is thought to be limitless. - Motor programme like riding a bike are stored in your LTM.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------->Encoding - the process of moving info from short term memory to the long term memory.

Strategies to improve retention and retrieval:Rehearsal/practice - when learning a skill we need to practice this it as much as possible, expert performers do this until they overload the skill. It is thought that practice carries the skills image to and fro the short and long term memories, helping both retention and retrieval.Linking - Coaches should try and link new information to  that which the performer already knows. Specific skills can be linked to fundamental motor skills. Linking parts of serial skills together both physically and mentally is important. Chunking - Information can be grouped to allow more to be dealt with at one time. Expert performers use chunking to look at the whole field of play, recognize developing patterns and anticipate what is going to happen. Particularly important in the short term memory which has limited capacity.Uniqueness - If the coach presents information in an unusual or unique way it is more likely to be remembered.Enjoyment - If the learner enjoys the experience it will increase there chance of remembering it.Other strategies are; Positive reinforcement, Imagery, Organisation, Simplicity, Remember the limitation of the short term memory and Meaningful.

Reaction time - The time between the onset of the stimulus and the start of the movement in response to it. E.G. The sprint start, reaction time is the time from the gun going off to the sprinter putting pressure on their blocks. Movement time - The time it takes from first starting the movement to completing it. E.G. So in the sprint start it is the time the sprinter presses in the blocks until the time they cross the line. Response time - Time from the onset of the stimulus to the completion of the movement. E.G it is the time from the gun going off to the sprinter crossing the finish line.reaction time + movement time = response time

Factors which affect response time:Age - Reaction time gets quicker until you are about 20 then it gets slower as you get older.Gender - Males generally have quicker reaction times than females but as we become older the difference becomes less noticeable.Limb used - The further the information has to travel in the nervous system the slower the reaction will be. Normally reaction of feet is slower than hands.Personality - Extroverts tend to have quicker reaction times than introverts.Alertness/Arousal/Motivation - Levels of these will effect reaction time, optimum levels needed for quickest reactions. Body temperature - If we are cold our reactions are slower.Sensory system receiving the stimulus - Reaction time will vary on the sense being used.External factors which affect reaction time: If a warning is given to you, Stimulus ID, Likelihood of stimulus occurring.

Single channel hypothesis:-This states that the brain can only deal with one stimulus at a time, way in which we process info is thought as a single channel as we can only deal with one piece at a time. That one piece has to be processed before the next can be dealt with, sometimes called a "Bottleneck".

Choice reaction time:- In many sporting situations performers are forced to deal with more than one stimulus and more than one response known as choice reaction time. - E.G. A badminton player having the stimuli of the different shots there opponent could play and the responses of which shot to play to return it. - The greater the info you have to process the slower your reaction time.

Hicks Law:Choice reaction time increases linearly as the number of stimulus/choice alternatives increase. - Hicks law is very important for us within sport if we are trying to outwit our opponents using disguise. - E.G. Short and long serves in badminton have the same start giving the opponent a lot of choices increasing reaction time.- We should attempt to pick up cues if receiving stimulus to keep choice reaction time as low as possible.

How do teachers/coaches attempt to improve the performers response time?- Warm up- Practice- Repetition- Anticipation - Motivate them- Improve fitness- Cue detection - Body temperature - Mental rehearsal- Response compatibility

Psychological refractory period:- Time delay between dealing with stimulus one and stimulus two, the quicker the PRP the better at sport you will be.- If we detect a stimulus and are still processing the information when a second stimuli comes along, we are unable to process the second one until we have processed the first one, therefore our reaction time is longer.

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