AP Psychology Flashcards: Chapters 2.3-2.7 Definitions and Concepts

Memory

the persistence of learning over time through the encoding, storage, and retrieval of information

Recall

retrieving information that is not currently in your conscious awareness but that was learned at an earlier time

Recognition

identifying items previously learned

Relearning

learning something more quickly when you learn it a second or later time

Encoding

the process of getting information into the memory system

Storage

the process of retaining information over time

Retrieval

the process of getting information out of memory storage

Long-term Memory

the relatively permanent and limitless storehouse of the memory system

Short-term Memory

activated memory that holds a few (5-9) items briefly (10-30 seconds) before the information is stored or forgotten

Sensory Memory

the immediate very brief recording of sensory information in the memory system

Parallel Processing

processing many aspects of a problem simultaneously; the brain's natural mode of information processing for many functions

Working Memory

a newer understanding of short-term memory that adds conscious, active processing of incoming auditory and visual information, and of information retrieved from long-term memory

Long-term Protentiation

an increase in a cell's firing potential after brief, rapid stimulation and is neural basis for learning and memory

Explicit/Declarative Processing

involves the retention of facts & experiences that one can consciously know

Somatic

facts & general knowledge

Episodic

experienced events

Effortful Processing

requires attention & conscious effort

Implicit/Non-Declarative Processing

involves retention of learned skills or classically conditioned associations independent of conscious recollection

Automatic Processing

the unconscious encoding of incidental information, such as space, time, & meaning

Iconic

momentary sensory memory of visual stimuli

Echoic

momentary sensory memory of auditory stimuli

Chunking

organizing items into familiar, manageable units; often occurs automatically

Mneomics

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

Spacing Effect

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

Testing Effect

enhanced memory after retrieving, rather than simply rereading, information

Shallowing Processing

encoding on a basic level based on the structure or appearance of words

Deep Processing

encodes semantically based on word meaning

Priming

the activation, often unconsciously, of particular associations in memory

Encoding Specificity Principle

the idea that cues and contexts specific to a particular memory will be most effective in helping us recall it

State-Dependent Memory

the tendency to recall experiences that are consistent with the state in which a person was at the time of encoding

Context-Dependent Memory

the activation of memory when one returns to the setting of the original encoding

Mood-Congruent Memory

the tendency to recall experiences that are consistent with one's current good or bad mood

Serial Position Effect

our tendency to best remember the items at the beginning and end of a list

Recency Effect

only remembering the end of the list

Primacy Effect

only remembering the beginning of the list

Encoding Failure

didn't pay attention well enough to properly create the memory

Storage Decay

memory has faded over time

Retrieval Failure

the memory is there but you can't find it

Motivated Forgetting

repression: purposely losing a memory

Interference

competing information

Amnesia

memory loss due to brain damage/injury

Amnesia

memory loss, often due to brain damage

Anterograde Amnesia

an inability to form new memories

Retrograde Amnesia

an inability to recall past memories

Traumatic Amnesia

caused by a severe, non penetrative blow to head; can lead to anything from loss of consciousness to coma

Hysterical/Fugue Amnesia

linked to severe psychological trauma; usually temporary and linked to a traumatic event the mind cannot deal with. Memory often returns, although the memory of trauma may remain incomplete

Childhood/Infantile Amnesia

inability to recall events from early childhood, could be linked to language development or immature brain

Proactive Interference

the forward acting disruptive effect of older learning on the recall of new information

Retroactive Interference

the backward acting disruptive effect of newer learning on old information

Source Amnesia

impaired memory for how, where, or when information was learned despite good memory for the information itself

Deja Vu

the eerie sense that you have experienced something before; cues from a current experiences may unconsciously trigger retrieval of an earlier experience

Misinformation Effect

a phenomenon that occurs when misleading information has distorted one's memory of an event

False Memories

brain games/Mandela effect

Memory Consolidation

the neural storage of long term memory, allows for more to be stored by only keeping the most crucial details

Semantic

facts and general knowledge

Episodic

experience events