Pyschology - CH6: Memory & Cognition

cognition

mental processes that we use to acquire, retain, & use knowledge

memory

process of forming, storing, & recalling info

information-processing model

model that views memory as a computer-like system that encodes, stores, & retrieves info

memory encoding

1st step in creating a memory; taking in information

sensory memory

when your brain briefly stores info from your senses for a few secs→ then disappears or passes on to short-term memory

short-term memory

temporarily holds info for about 20-30 secs

working memory

temporarily holding space that allows us to manipulate info

maintenance rehearsal

process of repeating info; allows us to retain info as long as we continue to think about it

chunking

ability to group several individual pieces of info into one larger meaningful unit

memory storage

process that allows us to save info for later use

long-term memory

stores an unlimited amount of info for an indefinite period of time

explicit memory

memory you can consciously recall; semantic & episodic memory

implicit memory

memory that is recalled w/o conscious effort; procedural memory

procedural memory

knowledge of how to do things as well as conditioned responses; motor skills/actions

ex. of procedural memory

how to tie your shoes, how to type on a keyboard, shoot a basketball

semantic memory

all the facts & general knowledge you’ve accumulated over time

ex. of semantic memory

remembering b-days, the capital of CA

episodic memory

personal experiences/events you can recall

ex. of episodic memory

remembering your senior year prom night, birth of your first child

memory retrieval

process of recalling information

free recall

ability to retrieve info from memory w/o any cues or hints

cued recall

using hint (aka retrieval cue) to stimulate memory

recognition

choosing from a set of options or recognizing the correct answer

forgetting curve

pattern of how info is lost over time

encoding failure

info not encoded → therefore not retrievable

decay theory

idea that over time, memories begin to fade due to natural metabolic processes in the brain

interference theory

idea that info is not forgotten, but rather, difficult to access b/c it competes or interferes w/ existing memories; proactive & retroactive

proactive interference

when you have difficulty learning new info b/c of older memories

ex. of proactive interference

struggling to get used to writing 2025 when 2024 recently ended

retroactive interference

when you have difficulty remembering old memories b/c you’ve learned new info

ex. of retroactive interference

new semester starts so you can no longer remember what your schedule was the previous year

suppression

type of motivated forgetting that involves deliberately trying to push info out of your head

false memory

when you think an occurrence that never happened was an actual occurrence

flashbulb memories

very clear, detailed memories of an emotionally strong or surprising event

elaboration

processing info w/ intention, deep thinking, examples, & connecting it to things in your own life

serial position effect

remembering info at the beginning & end of list, while info in the middle tends to be more prone to memory loss

encoding specificity principle

the way info is encoded affects later recall

shallow processing

learn or think about info only on a surface level

language

system of communication that uses rules to combine arbitrary symbols to create an infinite # of meaningful statements