AP Psychology Vocabulary List for Unit 5 Part 1: Cognition and Intelligence

memory, p. 318

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

encoding, p. 319

the processing of information into the memory system--for example, by extracting meaning.

storage, p. 319

the process of retaining encoded information over time.

retrieval, p. 319

the process of getting information out of memory stage.

parallel processing, p. 319

the processing of many aspects of a problem simultaneously; the brain's natural mode of information processing for many functions. Contrasts with the stop-by-step (serial) processing of most computers and of conscious problem solving.

sensory memory, p. 319

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

short-term memory, p. 319

activated memory that holds a few items briefly, such as the seven digits of a phone number while dialing, before the information is stored or forgotten.

long-term memory, p. 319

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

working memory, p. 320

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

explicit memory, p. 320

memory of facts and experiences that one can consciously know and "declare." (Also called declarative memory.)

effortful processing, p. 320

encoding that requires attention and conscious effort.

automatic processing, p. 320

unconscious encoding of incidental information, such as space, time, and frequency, and of well-learned information, such as word meanings.

implicit memory, p. 320

retention independent of conscious recollection. (Also called nondeclarative memory.)

iconic memory, p. 322

a momentary sensory memory of visual stimuli; a photographic or picture-image memory lasting no more than a few tenths of a second.

echoic memory, p. 322

a momentary sensory memory of auditory stimuli; if attention is elsewhere, sounds and words can still be recalled within 3 or 4 seconds.

chunking, p. 323

organizing items into familiar, manageable units; often occurs automatically.

mnemonics, p. 323

memory aids, especially those techniques that use vivid imagery and organizational devices.

spacing effect, p. 324

the tendency for distributed study or practice to yield better long-term retention than is achieved through massed study or practice.

testing effect, p. 324

enhanced memory after retrieving, rather than simply rereading, information. Also sometimes referred to as a retrieval practice effect or test-enhanced learning.

shallow processing, p. 324

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

deep processing, p. 325

encoding semantically, based on the meaning of the words; tends to yield the best retention.

recall, p. 334

a measure of memory in which the person must retrieve information learned earlier, as on a fill-in-the-blank test.

recognition, p. 334

a measure of memory in which the person need only identify items previously learned, as on a multiple-choice test.

relearning, p. 334

a measure of memory that assesses the amount of time saved when learning material again.

priming, p. 336

the activation, often unconsciously, of particular associations in memory.

mood-congruent memory, p. 337

the tendency to recall experiences that are consistent with one's current good or bad mood.

serial position effect, p. 337

our tendency to recall best the last (a recency effect) and first items (a primary effect) in a list.

misinformation effect, p. 347

incorporating misleading information into one's memory of an event.

source amnesia, p. 349

attributing to the wrong source an event we have experienced, heard about, read about, or imagined. (Also called source misattribution.) Source amnesia, along with the misinformation effect, is at the heart of many false memories.

déjà vu, p. 349

that eerie sense that "I've experienced this before." Cues from the current situation may unconsciously trigger retrieval of an earlier experience.