Exam 3

Encoding

The initial process of taking in information and converting it into a format that can be stored in the brain.

Storage

The process of holding onto information over time.

Retrieval

The act of accessing and bringing stored information back into conscious awareness when needed.

Elaborative encoding

Taking information we want to remember and embellishing it or attaching it to prior knowledge to enhance memory.

Self-reference effect

The phenomenon where we remember content better when it is linked to thoughts about ourselves.

Spacing effect

The improved memory for content studied in shorter periods spaced over time.

Testing effect

The improved recall of content when we test ourselves on that information.

Serial position effect

The tendency to better remember information at the beginning and end of a list.

Primacy effect

The tendency to better remember stimuli presented early in a list.

Recency effect

The tendency to better remember stimuli presented later in a list.

Retroactive interference

When learning something new impairs our ability to retrieve information learned earlier.

Proactive interference

the ability to learn new information is distorted by old information that has been learned

Retrograde amnesia

A memory disorder that causes inability to retrieve events that occurred before a certain time.

Anterograde amnesia

The inability to transfer information from short-term to long-term memory. (inability to form new memories)

General intelligence (g)

A broad mental capacity that influences a person's ability to process and think about information.

Specific intelligence

Proficiency in a specific subset of skills or abilities.

Parieto-Frontal Integration Model

a model that proposes that intelligence is related to how well the parietal and frontal lobes neurally communicate.

Epigenetics

The study of how experiences can influence the expression of genes.

Multiple intelligences

The theory that suggests there are eight different specific intelligences.

Emotional intelligence

The ability to process emotional information and use it in reasoning and other cognitive activities.

Critical period

A time in which language acquisition occurs most easily, lasting from infancy to puberty.

Broca’s area

A region near the motor cortex important for language production.

Wernicke’s area

A region near the auditory cortex important for language comprehension.

Aphasia

A condition in which language functions are severely impaired.

Affect

The experience of feeling or emotion, or our display of it.

James-Lange Theory

Suggests that arousal causes emotion.

Cannon-Bard Theory

Proposes that emotions and arousal occur simultaneously.

Two-Factor Theory

Proposes that arousal and cognition combine to create emotion.

Misattribution of Arousal

The tendency to incorrectly label the source of physiological arousal.

General Adaptation Syndrome

The three distinct physiological phases that occur in response to long-term stress: alarm reaction, resistance, and exhaustion.

Fight-or-flight response

An emotional and behavioral reaction that increases readiness for action.

Tend-and-befriend response

A behavioral reaction that creates social networks for protection from threats.

PERMA model

A model of subjective well-being that includes Positive Emotions, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, and Accomplishment.

Genetics

Accounts for about half of the difference in intelligence.There is no single cognitive intelligence gene or set of genes

Genetic Ethical Concerns

• Avoiding biodeterminism

• Knowing about low level of intelligence may lead to discrimination

• Who owns the data?

• Considering the emotional impact of knowing the information

Environmental Factors

Exposure to elements such as mercury, lead, pesticides, and air pollution, especially prenatally or in early childhood, are associated with lower cognitive intelligence scores. While children from low socioeconomic backgrounds may be most likely to be exposed to these substances, higher levels of cognitive intelligence may mitigate the negative effects of poverty.

Cultural intelligence

our ability “to function effectively in situations characterized by cultural diversity”

Affect

The experience of feeling or emotion, or our display of it

Arousal

Our experience of the bodily responses created by the sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system.

Linguistic Intelligence

speaking and writing

Logico-Mathematical Intelligence

using logic and mathematical skills to solve problems

Spatial Intelligence

thinking and reasoning about objects in three dimension

Musical Intelligence

performing and enjoying music

Kinesthetic Intelligence

moving the body such as in sports, dance, or other physical activities

Interpersonal Intelligence

understanding and interacting effectively with others

Intrapersonal Intelligence

having insight into the self

Naturalistic Intelligence

recognizing, identifying, and understanding animals, plants, and other living things

Situation Selection

we choose situations based on the emotion we want to feel or avoid; watch a comedy or a horror movie

Situation Modification

we alter the situation to alter our emotions; family meal with varying political views – ask that no politics are discussed

Attentional Deployment

shift our attention to or from an emotion; distract ourselves. When we ruminate, we can’t think or feel anything else

Cognitive Change

change how we think about a situation; we do this a lot after a break up- when someone tells you “they didn’t deserve you anyway!” or “There are better guys/girls out there!” shifts from sadness to hopefulness

Response Modulation

mitigate/reduce the effects of an emotion; when feeling angry, you may go for a run, eat a donut, go shopping…

Explicit Memory

Requires Conscious Awarness

Semantic Memory

Type of Explicit Memory - Facts and General Knowledge

Episodic Memory

Type of Explicit Memory - Personally experienced events

Implicit Memory

Does not require conscious awareness

Procedural Memory

Type of implicit memory - cognitive and motor skills

Priming

Type of implicit memory - enhanced identification of objects or words

Learning through classical conditoning

Type of implicit memory

Sensory Memory

Unattended information is lost

Short-Term Memory

Unrehearsed information is lost

Long-term Memory

Some information may be lost over time