Final answer:
Schemas impact memory by organizing and assisting the encoding process, which includes organizing and connecting new information with existing knowledge, thus facilitating easier recall and storage.
Step-by-step explanation:
Schemas affect memory primarily by organizing and influencing the encoding process. A schema is a cognitive framework or concept that helps organize and interpret information. Schemas allow us to take shortcuts in interpreting the vast amount of information that is available in our environment. However, these mental frameworks also cause us to exclude pertinent information to a particular schema.
Specifically, schemas impact how we encode memories. Encoding is the process of getting information into our memory system, which includes visual encoding, acoustic encoding, and semantic encoding. The schemas we have developed help in organizing and connecting new information with existing knowledge, thereby making the encoded information more meaningful and easier to remember. This is part of the effortful processing, which often involves a deeper level of processing, like elaborative rehearsal, enhancing the chances that a memory will be retained.
While encoding is central to creating lasting memories, schemas also play a role in the storage and retrieval of information. They help in chunking information into manageable units, making it easier to store, and they assist in recall by providing a framework from which to retrieve information. Schemas, therefore, serve as a map or guide in both the creation and utilization of memory.