Mem & Cog Ch. 5

Capacity

The total sum of cognitive resources available at any given time.

Central Executive of (WM)

The proposed component of working memory (WM) responsible for directing the flow of information and selecting what information to work with

Chunking

The formation of individual units of information into larger units. This is often used as a means of overcoming short-term memory limitations.

Coding

The process of transforming sensory input and incoming information into a distinct mental representation that the brain can store and later retrieve.

Decay

A hypothesized process of forgetting in which material is thought to erode, break apart, or otherwise disintegrate or fade.

Echo

A sensory memory for auditory stimuli.

Encoding

The cognitive process(es) by which information is translated into a mental or internal representation and stored

Episodic Buffer of (WM)

The proposed component of working memory (WM) responsible for linking information across domains to form integrated units of visual, spatial, and verbal information with information in long-term memory

Exhaustive Search

A search for information in which each item in a set is examined even after the target is found

Forgetting

The processes that prevent information from being retrieved from a memory store

Icon

A sensory memory for visual stimuli.

Interference

A hypothesized process of forgetting in which material is thought to be buried or otherwise displaced by other information but still exists somewhere in a memory store

Long-Term Memory

A memory store thought to have a large, possibly infinite capacity that holds onto incoming information for long periods of time, perhaps permanently. Also called secondary memory.

Long-Term Potentiation

A process, hypothesized to be a mechanism for long-term learning, in which neural circuits in the hippocampus are subjected to repeated and intense electrical stimulation, resulting in hippocampal cells that are more sensitive to stimuli than they were previously.

Memory Trace

The mental representation of stored information

Modal Model of Memory

A theoretical approach to the study of memory that emphasizes the existence of different memory stores (e.g., sensory memory, short-term memory, long-term memory).

Parallell Search

A search for information in which several stores or slots of information are simultaneously examined to match to the target.

Phonological Loop (Of WM)

The proposed component of working memory (WM) responsible for subvocally rehearsing auditory information.

Primacy Effect

The improvement in retention of information learned at the beginning of a task.

Recency Effect

The improvement in retention of information learned at the end of a task

Rehearsal

A mnemonic strategy of repeating information (either aloud or silently) to facilitate retention and later retrieval.

Retention Duration

The amount of time a memory trace remains available for retrieval.

Retrieval

The processes by which stored information is brought back to conscious awareness.

Self-Terminating Search

A search for information that stops when a target is found.

Sensory Memory

A memory store thought to hold on to incoming sensory information for very brief periods.

Serial Position Effect

The phenomenon that items from the beginning or end of a list of items are more easily recalled than items from the middle of the list.

Serial Search

A search for information in which several stores or slots of information are sequentially examined for match to the target.

Short-Term Memory (STM)

A memory store thought to hold on to incoming information for 18 to 30 seconds. Also called primary memory (up to seven plus or minus two “slots”). Passive, Single, Temporary.

Storage

The mental “holding on” to information between the time it is encoded and the time it is retrieved.

Visuospatial Sketchpad of WM

The proposed component of working memory that maintains visual or spatial information

Working Memory (WM)

A cognitive system that temporarily stores and actively manipulates information in your mind while you perform complex tasks like reasoning, learning, or problem-solving. “ an active role played by processing system”

Free Recall

Recall without a given cue

Correct Response to a Target

Target Hit

Incorrect Response to Target

Target Miss

Correct Response to Distractor(Lure)

Correct reject

Incorrect Response to Lure(Distractor)

False Alarm

N-Forced Choice Recognition

Find the target among distractors (MCQ type questions).

Cued Recall

Paired-association learning. Given cue, recall target.