Echoic Memory in Psychology: Definition, Function, and Examples
Humans remember sounds and words in slightly different ways. Memory for sound is referred to as echoic memory, which can be defined as a very brief sensory memory of some auditory stimuli. It’s a type of sensory memory along with iconic (visual) and haptic (touch-based). Considered teaching Emotional Intelligence to Others? - Free 4 Quick Tips on teaching Emotional Intelligence. Echoic memory stores auditory information or sounds. Echoic memory is a subcategory of human memory.
A German American psychologist by the name of Ulric Neisser defined the concept of echoic memory in 1967.
Let's delve into the definition, function, duration, and real-life examples of echoic memory.
Atkinson-Shiffrin memory model
Understanding Human Memory
Human memory can be divided into three major categories:
- Long-term memory retains events, facts, and skills. It can last for hours to decades.
- Short-term memory stores information you recently received. It lasts for a few seconds to 1 minute.
- Sensory memory, also called the sensory register, holds information from the senses.
Sensory memory can be further broken down into three types:
- Iconic memory, or visual sensory memory, handles visual information.
- Haptic memory retains information from your sense of touch.
- Echoic memory holds audio information from your sense of hearing.
What is Echoic Memory?
Echoic memory is a type of sensory memory that registers and temporarily holds auditory information (sounds) until it is processed and comprehended (Carlson, 2010). Following the initial registration, the sounds resonate and are replayed in the mind (Radvansky, 2005). Typically, echoic memories are stored for slightly longer periods of time than iconic memories (visual memories). Echoic and iconic memories are sensory memories, not types of long-term memory, and thus are very temporary and fade quickly.
Specifically, echoic memory is sensory memory associated with auditory information received from the environment. The term echoic stems from the word echo, which is in reference to the brief echo, or the reverberation of sound that is transmitted neurologically via this type of sensory memory.
The purpose of echoic memory is to store audio information as the brain processes the sound. It also holds bits of audio information, which gives meaning to the overall sound.
Echoic memory occurs automatically whether a person consciously tries to remember what they've heard. The process of echoic memory is automatic. This means audio information enters your echoic memory even if you don’t purposely try to listen. In fact, your mind is constantly forming echoic memories.
The Process of Echoic Memory
When you hear something, your auditory nerve sends the sound to your brain. It does this by transmitting electrical signals. At this point, the sound is “raw” and unprocessed audio information.
Echoic memory occurs when this information is received and held by the brain. Specifically, it’s stored in the primary auditory cortex (PAC), which is found in both hemispheres of the brain.
The information is held in the PAC opposite of the ear that heard the sound. For instance, if you hear a sound in your right ear, the left PAC will hold the memory. But if you hear a sound through both ears, both the left and right PAC will retain the information.
After a few seconds, the echoic memory moves into your short-term memory. This is where your brain processes the information and gives meaning to the sound.
Echoic memory process
Duration of Echoic Memory
Echoic memory is a type of sensory memory that temporarily stores auditory information or sounds for a brief period, typically for up to 3-4 seconds. It lasts for 2 to 4 seconds before your brain can process the sound. While echoic memory is very short, it helps keep information in your brain even after the sound has ended.
The other section comprises a sub-vocal process of rehearsal that refreshes the original memory trace by utilizing the individual’s inner voice. This system supposedly comprises an initial 200 to 400-ms input phase followed by an information transferring phase.
Real-Life Examples of Echoic Memory
Here are a few everyday examples:
- Talking to another person: Spoken language is a common example. When someone talks, your echoic memory retains each individual syllable. Your brain recognizes words by connecting each syllable to the previous one. Each word is also stored in echoic memory, which allows your brain to understand a full sentence.
- Listening to music: Your brain uses echoic memory when you listen to music. It briefly recalls the previous note and connects it to the next one. As a result, your brain recognizes the notes as a song.
- Asking someone to repeat themselves: When someone talks to you while you’re busy, you might not fully hear what they say. If they repeat what they said, it will sound familiar because your echoic memory heard them the first time.
Other examples include:
- Listening to a song: When we listen to music, our brains briefly recall each note and connect it to the ensuing note.
- Conversing with another person: When we hear spoken language, our echoic memories retain every individual syllable.
- Repeated speech: When what someone says to us is not clear, we may request the repetition of what was mentioned.
When someone is distracted and asks a friend, "What did you say?" Echoic memory is the reason that they immediately recognize the words even when they weren't actively listening to the conversation. The person's echoic memory retained the words even though it was not done consciously. Echoic memory allows the recall of words that were spoken when not listening. Notes played on a piano are stored in echoic memory long enough for the brain to process the notes into a recognizable song or melody. Echoic memory allows the brain to interpret individual notes into a recognizable song.
Factors Affecting Echoic Memory
All humans have echoic memory. However, various factors can influence how well someone has this type of memory.
Possible factors include:
- Age
- Neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease
- Psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia
- Substance use
- Hearing loss or impairment
- Language disorders
It also depends on the characteristics of a sound, including:
- Duration
- Frequency
- Intensity
- Volume
- Language (with spoken word)
As mismatch negativity research suggests, such cognitive and developmental growth is likely to occur until adulthood before experiencing a decline in old age (Glass, Sachse & Suchodoletz, 2008).
Echoic Memory vs. Iconic Memory
Iconic memory, or visual sensory memory, holds visual information. It’s a type of sensory memory, just like echoic memory.
But iconic memory is much shorter. It lasts for less than half a second.
That’s because images and sounds are processed in different ways. Since most visual information doesn’t immediately disappear, you can repeatedly view an image. Plus, when you look at something, you can process all the visual images together.
Echoic memory is longer, which is useful because sound waves are time sensitive. They can’t be reviewed unless the actual sound is repeated. Also, sound is processed by individual bits of information. Each bit gives meaning to the previous bit, which then gives meaning to the sound. As a result, the brain needs more time to store audio information.
Iconic memory
When to Seek Medical Help
We all forget things sometimes. It’s also normal to experience some memory loss as we get older. But if you’re having serious memory issues, it’s important to see a doctor.
Seek medical help if you have memory problems, such as:
- Getting lost in familiar places
- Forgetting how to say common words
- Repeatedly asking questions
- Taking longer to do familiar activities
- Forgetting names of friends and family
Depending on your specific issues, a doctor might refer you to a specialist, like a psychologist or neurologist.
Testing Echoic Memory
Memory testing in both iconic and echoic memory defined the difference between whole and partial reporting. When testing echoic memory, someone is given a series of spoken letters or numbers. They are less able to give a whole report and recall all of the spoken letters. If asked to recall a specific portion of the spoken letters, the partial recall is much higher and accurate. Partial reporting surpasses accuracy when compared to the whole reporting.