Cognition+Exam+2

Memory

The process of encoding, storing, and retrieving information.

Ebbinghaus’ Forgetting Curve

A graph that illustrates the decline of memory retention over time.

Spacing Effect

The phenomenon where information is better remembered when study sessions are spaced apart.

Types of Memory

Different categories of memory including sensory memory, short-term memory, and long-term memory.

Sensory Memory

The brief retention of sensory information, including iconic (visual) and echoic (auditory) memory.

Chunking

A technique used to improve memory capacity by grouping information into larger chunks.

Baddeley’s Working Memory Model

A model that describes the structure and function of short-term memory, including components like the central executive and phonological loop.

Explicit Memory

Memory that involves conscious recall, including episodic and semantic memory.

Implicit Memory

Memory that does not require conscious thought, including priming and procedural memory.

Levels of Processing Theory

A theory suggesting that memory retention depends on the depth of processing a piece of information receives.

Self-Reference Effect

The tendency for individuals to better remember information that is personally relevant.

Context Dependence

The phenomenon where memory retrieval is improved when context at encoding matches context at retrieval.

Amnesia

A form of memory loss affecting the ability to recall information, which can be retrograde (loss of prior memories) or anterograde (inability to form new memories).

False Memories

Memories that individuals believe to be true but are distorted or fabricated.

Prototype Approach

A theory that categorizes concepts based on the best examples of a category, known as prototypes.

Semantic Networks

A theoretical framework that represents knowledge as a network of interconnected concepts.

Connectionist Models

Computational models that simulate how information is processed in the brain through interconnected networks.

Memory Encoding

The process of transforming sensory input into a format that can be stored in memory.

Memory Storage

The maintenance of encoded information over time.

Memory Retrieval

The process of accessing and bringing to consciousness information stored in memory.

Iconic Memory

A type of sensory memory that holds visual images for a short duration.

Echoic Memory

A type of sensory memory that holds auditory information for a brief period.

Short-term Memory Capacity

Typically holds 7±2 items, according to Miller’s Law.

Long-term Memory Duration

Can last from minutes to a lifetime.

Rehearsal

The cognitive process of repeatedly thinking about or verbalizing information to enhance memory retention.

Interference Theory

A theory suggesting that memory can be disrupted by the presence of other information.

Retroactive Interference

When newer information interferes with the recall of older information.

Proactive Interference

When older information interferes with the learning or recall of new information.

Primacy Effect

The tendency to remember the first items in a list better than those in the middle.

Recency Effect

The tendency to remember the most recent items in a list better than those at the beginning.

Mnemonic Devices

Memory aids that use associations, acronyms, or visualization to enhance recall.

Contextual Cues

External stimuli that help retrieve memories based on the context in which they were learned.

State-Dependent Learning

Memory retrieval is enhanced when one is in the same physiological or psychological state as when the information was encoded.

Flashbulb Memories

Vivid, detailed memories of emotionally significant events.

Tip-of-the-Tongue Phenomenon

A feeling of knowing that a particular word or name is on the verge of being recalled.

Declarative Memory

Memory of facts and events that can be consciously recalled, including episodic and semantic memory.

Procedural Memory

Memory for the performance of particular types of actions or skills.

Semantic Memory

A category of explicit memory that involves the recollection of facts and knowledge.

Episodic Memory

A category of explicit memory that involves recollection of personal experiences and specific events.

Brain Regions Involved in Memory

The hippocampus, amygdala, and cortex are key regions for different types of memory processing.

Neuroplasticity

The brain's ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections.

Amnestic Syndrome

A condition characterized by significant memory loss and the inability to form new memories.

Memory Consolidation

The process by which short-term memories are transformed into long-term memories.

Overlearning

Continued practice of learned information beyond initial mastery, which enhances retention.

Cue-Dependent Forgetting

Forgetting that occurs due to a lack of proper cues to retrieve the memory.

Memory Distortion

Alterations of memory that occur over time, potentially leading to inaccuracies.

Reliability of Eyewitness Testimony

Eyewitness accounts can be affected by memory distortion and suggestion, leading to inaccuracies.

Encoding Specificity Principle

Memory is improved when information at retrieval matches the encoding context.

False Memory Syndrome

A condition in which a person's identity and relationships are affected by false memories.

Autobiographical Memory

A form of memory that involves recollection of significant experiences in one’s life.

Memory Palaces

A mnemonic technique where visualization is used to associate information with specific physical locations.

Hyperthymesia

A condition characterized by an extraordinary ability to recall personal life events in great detail.

Social Constructivism

A theory that emphasizes the role of social interactions in shaping memory and learning.

Memory and Aging

Memory capabilities can decline with age, particularly affecting recall and processing speed.