AP Psychology Studying and Building Memories

memory

The persistence of learning over time through the encoding, storage, and retrieval of information.

sensory memory

The immediate, very brief recording of sensory information in the memory system.

short-term memory

Activated memory that holds a few items briefly before the information is stored or forgotten.

long-term memory

The relatively permanent and limitless storehouse of the memory system, including knowledge, skills, and experiences.

working memory

A newer understanding of short-term memory that focuses on conscious, active processing of incoming auditory and visual-spatial information.

explicit memory

Memory of facts and experiences that one can consciously know and declare.

implicit memory

Retention independent of conscious recollection, also called nondeclarative memory.

effortful processing

Encoding that requires attention and conscious effort.

automatic processing

Unconscious encoding of incidental information, such as space, time, and frequency.

levels of processing

The depth of processing affects long-term retention, with deeper processing leading to better retention.

chunking

Organizing items into familiar, manageable units to aid memory retention.

mnemonics

Memory aids that often use vivid imagery and organizational devices.

hierarchies

Organizing information into categories and subcategories to facilitate retrieval.

spacing effect

The tendency for distributed study or practice to yield better long-term retention than massed study.

testing effect

Enhanced memory after retrieving rather than simply rereading information.

shallow processing

Encoding on a basic level, based on the structure or appearance of words.

deep processing

Encoding semantically, based on the meaning of the words, which tends to yield the best retention.

self-reference effect

The tendency to recall information better when it is related to oneself.

parallel processing

The processing of many aspects of a problem simultaneously, as opposed to sequential processing.

iconic memory

A momentary sensory memory of visual stimuli; lasting only a few tenths of a second.

echoic memory

A momentary sensory memory of auditory stimuli; lasting about 3 to 4 seconds.