2.6 (Hippocampus and Memory Formation)

Hippocampus

Brain structure for forming explicit memories (we have one per hemisphere; who, what, when)

Neurogenesis

Growth of new neurons in the hippocampus that the cerebral cortex organizes

Memory Accuracy

Subject to alteration by question phrasing.

types of bias

confirmation bias: favoring memories that support existing beliefs

hindsight bias: Revising memories based on emotional needs

overconfidence bias: Believing one's memories are always correct

Themes/Schemas

Frameworks that influence memory recall.

Memory Mashup

Hippocampus combines related memories from scenarios.

two types of retrieval

recall (recollection of everything we know at once - less susceptible to bias) and recognition (use clues to find an outcome to a different problem - can introduce bias)

how memories are influenced

mood congruent, context dependent, state dependent

ways to improve retrieval

retrieval practice, testing effect, metacognition, incubation

retrieval practice

Ask ourselves what we learned before so it's easier to retrieve during the test

long-term potentiation

an increase in a synapse's firing potential after brief, rapid stimulation. Believed to be a neural basis for learning and memory.

testing effect

Enhanced performance on a memory test caused by being tested on the material to be remembered.

Metacognition

thinking about thinking and understanding what may be blocking some info from appearing

incubation

remembering to take breaks because a solution may appear when we are not hyperfixated