Memory Systems and Cognitive Models Flashcards

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering memory processes, explicit/implicit memory, procedural/declarative memory, and the three major cognitive models of memory: Atkinson-Shiffrin, Levels of Processing, and Baddeley's Working Memory.

Memory

The means by which we retain and draw on past experiences to use that information in the present, including the dynamic mechanisms of storing, retaining, and retrieving information.

Encoding

The cognitive processes used to store information in memory.

Storage

The cognitive processes used to maintain information in memory over time.

Retrieval

The cognitive processes used to get stored information back out of memory.

Recall Task

A memory test requiring participants to generate an answer directly from memory, such as producing a word from its definition.

Recognition Task

A memory test where participants do not need to generate the answer, but instead identify previously encountered stimuli from presented choices.

Free Recall

A task in which participants recall as many items as possible from a previously presented list in any order.

Serial Recall

A task in which participants must recall items in the exact order they were presented.

Cued Recall

A memory task where participants are provided with specific clues or paired associates to trigger item recall.

Explicit Memory Tasks

Memory tests involving conscious recollection where participants are fully aware they are trying to retrieve information from memory.

Implicit Memory Tasks

Memory tests where task performance indirectly demonstrates memory without requiring conscious recollection, such as word fragment completion or word stem completion.

Procedural Memory

A type of non-declarative memory involved in knowing how to perform motor or cognitive skills, such as riding a bike, skateboarding, skiing, or touch typing.

Declarative Memory

Memory for factual information (semantic memory) or personal life events (autobiographical memory).

Atkinson-Shiffrin Model

The classical 1968 three-stage model of memory conceptualizing information processing through Sensory Memory, Short-Term Memory, and Long-Term Memory.

Sensory Memory

The initial stage of memory that holds incoming sensory input with a large capacity but very limited duration, retaining only what receives attention.

Iconic Memory

The visual component of sensory memory.

Echoic Memory

The auditory component of sensory memory.

Whole Report Procedure

An experimental task used by Sperling (1960) where a matrix of letters is flashed for $50\,\text{milliseconds}$ and subjects attempt to recall as many total letters as possible, typically recalling around 4 letters.

Partial Report Procedure

An experimental task used by Sperling (1960) where a letter matrix is flashed for $50\,\text{milliseconds}$ and a tone signals subjects to report a specific single row, demonstrating that sensory memory has a large capacity.

Sperling (1960) Tone Delay Graph

A plot showing that as the tone signal delay increases in partial report procedure, the average number of recalled letters rapidly declines to the baseline whole-report recall level.

Short-Term Memory

A stage of memory with limited capacity ($7 \pm 2$ items) that receives input from sensory and long-term memory and persists as long as information is actively rehearsed.

Chunking

The cognitive process of grouping individual pieces of information into meaningful larger units to increase the effective capacity of short-term memory.

Chess Position Recall Experiment

An experiment demonstrating that chess masters recall far more pieces than beginners when shown actual game configurations due to expert chunking, but perform identically poorly on random piece arrangements.

Long-Term Memory

The memory system fed by short-term memory that possesses virtually unlimited capacity and virtually unlimited duration, requiring effortful processing for encoding.

Levels of Processing Model

A memory framework proposed by Craik & Lockhart (1972) asserting that memory strength depends on the depth of cognitive elaboration during processing rather than distinct storage stages.

Deep Processing

Processing information semantically according to meaning, creating strong, durable long-term memories.

Shallow Processing

Processing information based on physical or surface features, resulting in fragile memory traces that decay rapidly.

Maintenance Rehearsal

Rote repetition of information to hold it in short-term memory without analyzing its meaning, which does not automatically transfer items to long-term memory.

Elaborative Rehearsal

Processing information by focusing on its semantic meaning and connecting it to existing knowledge to form long-lasting memories.

Self-Reference Effect

The enhancement of memory recall for items that are processed in terms of their personal relation to oneself.

Transfer-Appropriate Processing

The principle demonstrated by Morris, Bransford, and Franks (1977) showing that memory performance depends on how closely encoding processes match the cognitive demands of the retrieval test.

Baddeley's Working Memory Model

A multi-component memory system consisting of the Central Executive, Visuo-spatial Sketch Pad, and Phonological Loop used for temporary storage and active manipulation of information during complex tasks.

Phonological Loop

The component of working memory responsible for maintaining verbal and acoustic information short-term using a phonological store and an articulatory loop.

Word Length Effect

The finding that memory span is larger for short words than long words because individuals can generally recall as many words as they can pronounce in $2\,\text{seconds}$.

Articulatory Suppression

The experimental technique of continuously repeating an irrelevant sound (such as saying 'the') to disrupt the phonological loop and block phonological code formation.

Visuospatial Sketchpad

The component of working memory dedicated to visual imagery and spatial processing, allowing visual representations to be scanned, rotated, or enlarged.

Central Executive

The supervisory component of working memory that directs attention, coordinates sub-components, plans process sequences, and monitors cognitive activity.