Chapter 7: Memory; Psychology

What is memory?

Retention of information or experience over time.

What are the three phases of memory?

Encoding, Storage, and Retrieval.

What is encoding in memory?

Processing sensory information.

What is storage in memory?

Retaining information somewhere.

What is retrieval in memory?

Being able to fetch the information after time.

What is effortful encoding?

Remembering on purpose.

What is automatic encoding?

Remembering unconsciously.

What is selective attention?

Concentrating on one thing instead of others.

What is divided attention?

Concentrating on more than one thing at a time.

What is sustained attention?

Maintaining concentration over time.

What does elaboration in memory refer to?

Creation of different connections between aspects of stimuli.

What is the Atkinson-Shiffrin theory of memory?

A model that describes memory as having sensory, short-term, and long-term stages.

What is sensory memory?

Memory of sensations for fractions of a second.

What is short-term memory?

Memory that lasts up to 30 seconds and has a limited capacity of 7 ± 2 items.

What is long-term memory?

Memory that can potentially last a lifetime.

What is explicit memory?

Conscious recollection of specific facts and events.

What are the two subtypes of explicit memory?

Episodic memory (autobiographical) and semantic memory (knowledge about the world).

What is implicit memory?

Behavior affected by prior experience without conscious memory.

What is procedural memory?

Memory for skills and actions.

What is the Dual-Code Hypothesis?

The idea that imagery is effective because it creates both a verbal and an image code.

What is chunking in memory?

Grouping information into higher-order units to improve memory.

What is the forgetting curve?

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

What is proactive interference?

When old information interferes with the ability to learn new information.

What is the difference between recall and recognition tasks?

Recall requires retrieving information without cues, while recognition involves identifying information with cues.

What are flashbulb memories?

Vivid memories of significant events, often emotional.

What is the role of the hippocampus in memory?

Involved in the formation of explicit memories.

What is the serial position effect?

The tendency to recall items at the beginning and end of a list more readily than those in the middle.

What is the significance of schemas in memory?

Preexisting mental concepts that help organize and interpret information.

What is long-term potentiation?

The strengthening of synapses based on recent patterns of activity, facilitating memory formation.

What is encoding failure?

The inability to transfer information into long-term memory.

What does retrieval failure refer to?

The inability to access information stored in long-term memory, often due to interference.

What is retroactive interference?

When new information interferes with the retrieval of previously learned material.

What does decay theory suggest?

Forgetting occurs due to the passage of time, leading to the fading of memories.

What is the tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon?

The experience of being unable to retrieve a word or name from memory, despite feeling that retrieval is imminent.

What is prospective memory?

The ability to remember to perform actions in the future, including what to do and when to do it.

What is anterograde amnesia?

The inability to form new memories after the onset of amnesia.

What is retrograde amnesia?

The inability to retrieve memories that were formed before the onset of amnesia.

What are autobiographical memories?

Memories of personal experiences and specific events in one's life.

What is the Atkinson-Shiffrin model?

A theory that describes memory as a process involving sensory memory, short-term memory, and long-term memory.

What is the role of attention in memory processing?

Attention is necessary for transferring information from sensory memory to short-term memory.

What is rehearsal in the context of memory?

A cyclic process that involves repeating information to enhance retention in short-term memory.

What are the three main components of the Atkinson-Shiffrin model?

Sensory memory, short-term memory, and long-term memory.

What is the function of the hippocampus?

It is crucial for the formation of explicit memories and is involved in memory consolidation.

What is the role of the amygdala in memory?

It is involved in the processing of emotional memories.

What is the primacy effect?

The tendency to remember the first items in a list due to increased rehearsal.

What is the recency effect?

The tendency to remember the last items in a list because they are still in short-term memory.

What is the significance of physical activity for memory?

Physical activity is associated with improved cognitive function and memory retention.

What strategies can enhance memory retention?

Organizing material, using imagery, chunking information, and testing oneself.

What is absentmindedness?

A lapse in attention that results in forgetting to perform intended actions.

What is the difference between explicit and implicit memory?

Explicit memory involves conscious recall of information, while implicit memory involves unconscious retention.

What are redemptive and contamination stories in autobiographical memory?

Redemptive stories highlight positive outcomes from negative experiences, while contamination stories focus on negative outcomes from positive experiences.

How can one keep memory sharp?

By maintaining an active mental life and engaging in physical activity.

What is the role of chunking in memory?

Chunking involves grouping information into manageable units to enhance memory retention.

What is the function of the frontal lobes in memory?

They are primarily involved in episodic memory processing.