Lecture Notes on Memory Encoding and Storage

Flashcards reviewing key concepts related to memory encoding, storage, and retrieval processes.

What is phonemic encoding?

A level of processing where you focus on how a word sounds, emphasizing the auditory aspects of language

What is semantic encoding?

The process of storing information in memory by focusing on its meaning and context

What is encoding?

The process of getting information into the memory system, for example, by extracting meaning.

What is a mnemonic?

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

What is the method of loci?

A mnemonic technique where a person mentally places items they want to remember at specific locations within a familiar environment, like a house or a journey, to enhance recall by associating information with spatial imagery

What is chunking?

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

What is the spacing effect?

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

What is mass practice?

Studying a large amount of material in a short time

What is distributed practice?

A learning strategy where information is studied over a longer period of time in smaller increments, with spaced intervals between study sessions, resulting in better long-term memory retention compared to cramming information all at once

What is the serial position effect?

Our tendency to recall best the last items in a list initially (a recency effect) and the first items in a list after a delay (a primacy effect).

What is the primary effect?

The tendency for people to better remember information presented at the beginning of a list, sequence, or series compared to information presented later on

What is the recency effect?

The tendency for people to remember information presented at the end of a list or sequence better than information presented earlier

What is the central executive?

A memory component that coordinates the activities of the phonological loop and visuospatial sketchpad.

What is the phonological loop?

A memory component that briefly holds auditory information.

What is the visuospatial sketchpad?

A memory component that briefly holds information about objects' appearance and location in space.

What is the multi-store model of memory?

A theory that describes human memory as consisting of three distinct storage systems: the sensory register, short-term memory (STM), and long-term memory (LTM), where information flows through each stage sequentially, with attention needed to move information from one store to the next

What is Episodic Buffer?

A type of long-term memory that stores personal experiences and events from a specific time and place

What is iconic memory?

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

What is echoic memory?

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

What is short-term memory?

Briefly activated memory of a few items that is later stored or forgotten.

What is long-term memory?

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

What is automatic processing?

Unconscious encoding of incidental information, such as space, time, and frequency, and of familiar or well-learned information, such as sounds, smells, and word meanings.

What is effortful processing?

Conscious encoding that requires attention and effort.

What is storage?

The process of retaining encoded information over time.

What is retrieval?

The process of getting information out of memory storage.