memory and forgetting

Short-term memory

Activated memory holding a few items briefly

Sensory memory

Immediate, brief recording of sensory information

Iconic memory

Momentary sensory memory of visual stimuli

Echoic memory

Momentary sensory memory of auditory stimuli

Long-term memory

Relatively permanent and limitless memory storehouse

Procedural memory

Memory involved in automatic motor movement

Flashbulb moments

Vivid memories of emotionally significant events

Long-term potentiation

Increase in neuron-firing potential after rapid stimulation

Retrieval cues

Bits of spatial information aiding memory recall

Mood congruency

Tendency to recall memories consistent with current mood

Serial-position effect

Tendency to remember items at the beginning or end of a list

Stereotype threat

Situational risk of conforming to stereotypes about one's group

Chunking

Organizing information into familiar, manageable units

Mnemonics

Memory aids like acronyms to remember information

Spacing effect

Spacing learning and relearning information across days or weeks

Testing effect

Self-testing recall more effective than re-reading

Herman Ebbinghaus

Pioneer in research on relearning and memory analysis

Anterograde amnesia

Inability to develop new memories

Retrograde amnesia

Failure to retrieve old information

Proactive interference

Prior learning disrupts recall of new information

Retroactive interference

New learning disrupts recall of old information

Misinformation effect

Incorporating misleading information into memory

Elizabeth Loftus

Pioneered in research on misinformation effect and eyewitness accounts in court

Source amnesia

Attributing an event or memory to the wrong source