Memory VOcabulary Study Guide

Hippocampus

A neural center located in the limbic system; critical for forming new explicit memories of facts and events. Damage to this area can lead to Anterograde Amnesia

Anterograde Amnesia

The inability to form new memories after the onset of an injury or disease. (This the expected result of severe hippocampus damage)

Retrograde Amnesia

The inability to recall information from one’s past

Infantile Amnesia

The inability to remember events from before the age of approximately three

Alzheimer’s Disease

A progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by memory loss (e.g. losing items, getting lost) and confusion, often seen in older age

Episodic Memory

Explicit memory for personally experienced events, often involving an episode from your life (e.g. remembering where you went on a summer vacation when you were eight)

Semantic Memory

Explicit Memory for facts concepts and general knowledge (knowing area of a square)

Prospective Memory

Remembering to perform an action in the future

Procedural Memory

Implicit memory for skills, habits, and automatic actions; memory of how to do something

Encoding Failure

The inability to recall information because the information was never properly transferred from working memory into long-term memory often due to lack of attention

Effortful Processing

Encoding that requires conscious effort and attention, such as when Levi used word associations to make note cards.

Automatic Processing

Unconscious encoding of incidental information that requires little to no effort

Elaborative Rehearsal

A method of encoding that involves linking new information to existing knowledge to create deeper, more meaningful connections

Maintenance Rehearsal

The simple shallow repition of information to keep it in short term memory

Long-Term Potentiation

An increase in a synapse’s firing potential after a brief, rapid simulation. It is believed to be a neural basis for learning and memory. The result is that memory improves because neural pathways are strengthened.

Retrieval

Process of getting information out of memory storage

RECALL - Retrieving information not currently in your conscious awareness; a fill-in-the-blank or essay test

RECOGNITION- Identifying items previously learned; a multiple-choice test

Testing effect

The finding that practicing retrieval (taking practice exams) makes memory stronger and improves later recall

Mood-Congruent Memory

The tendency to recall experiences that are consistent with one’s current good or bad mood

Context-Dependent Memory

Enhanced recall of information when the physical environment (context) during retrieval matches the environment during encoding

Primacy Effect

Better remember beginning of the list instead of middle

Recency Effect

Better remember items at end of list than middle

Proactive Interference

When prior learning (old information) interferes with the learning or retrieval of new information

Retroactive interference

When new learning interferes with the retrieval of old information

Distributed Practice

Studying or learning in smaller increments over a longer period of time; proven to be more effective for long-term retention

Massed Practice

Cramming, Studying or learning in one large block of time; leads to good short-term performance but poor long-term retention

Sensory Memory

The initial, brief recording of sensory information in the memory system

Iconic Memory

A momentary sensory memory of visual stimuli; lasts less than a second

Echoic Memory

A momentary sensory memory of auditory stimuli; lasts about 3-4 seconds

Working Memory

A component of short-term memory that focuses on conscious, active processing of incoming auditory and visual information, and information retrieved from long-term memory. Its role is coordinating and manipulating information held in short term memory to solve problems or make decisions

Phonological Loop

The part of working memory that handles auditory and verbal information, often through subvocal rehearsal (repeating a password)

Chunking

Organizing items into familiar, manageable units; often occurs automatically, helping to increase working memory capacity

Method of Loci

A mnemonic technique that involves associating items with a series of visual imaginary places (Mental Map)