Unit 2- Cognition, memory, and learning

What is memory?

The continuous learning through perception, encoding, storage, and retrieval

What is encoding?

The process by which perceived information is transformed into a format that can be processed and stored by the brain

What is storage?

The process of retaining information in the brain over time

What is retrieval?

The process of accessing stored information and bringing it back into conscious awareness

What is sensory memory?

The intial stage of memory that briefly stores sensory information as a buffer between perception and comprehension

What are the two types of sensory memory?

Iconic and echoic memory

What is iconic memory?

Our ability to hang onto visual stimuli for a fraction of a second

What is echoic memory?

Our ability to hand on to auditory stimuli for a few seconds

What is short term memory?

A section of memory that holds information for about thirty seconds

What is long term memory?

A stage of memory in which information is stored indefinitely

What stage of memory has a virtually unlimited capacity?

Long term memory

What is working memory?

The section of our short term memory that allows us to hold onto and manipulate information

What is the central executive?

The control center of the working memory

What does the central executive do?

Coordinates memory and integrates information in the prefrontal cortex

What is the phonological loop?

The component of working memory that allows the processing and manipulation of auditory information

How does the phonological loop work?

It repeats information through subvocal repetition, allowing it to be worked with and keep in short term memory

What is the visiospatial sketchpad?

The component of working memory that handles visual Information

What is long-term potentiation?

A long-lasting increase in signal transmission between neurons after they’re activated simultaneously

What is automatic processsing?

The unconscious encoding of information

What is effortful processing?

Memory encoding that takes active attention

What does the levels of processing model propose?

That the depth at which we think about something affects how well we remember it

What is shallow processing?

A level of processing that focuses on surface level information

Structural and phonemic processing are both types of…?

Shallow processing

What is structural processing?

Type of shallow processing focusing on the physical structure of information

What is phonemic processing?

A type of shallow processing focusing on auditory aspects of information

What is deep encoding?

The process of thoroughly processing information by focusing on its meaning

What is chunking?

A memory strategy that involves grouping pieces of information into larger units

What is grouping?

A method of organizing by putting related information into categories

What are hierarchies?

Organizing information into ranked levels

What are mnemonics?

Techniques to improve memory

What is the method of loci?

A mnemonic technique that involves associating items with specific physical locations

What are explicit memories?

Memories that require conscious recall of facts and experiences

What is semantic memory?

General knowledge or facts about the world that you remember

What is episodic memory?

Events and facts related to your life that you remember

What is autobiographical memory?

Memories that are intrinsically tied to your sense of self

What are implicit memories?

Memories that do not require conscious thought to recall

What is procedural memory?

Our ability to perform tasks and skills that we have learned automatically

What is prospective memory?

Our ability to remember to carry out an intended action in the future

What is massed practice?

What I’m doing right now lol

What is masses practice ACTUALLY?

When content is studied intensely over a short period of time

What is the spacing effect?

The phenomena in which study sessions that are spaced out over time encode the information better

What is maintenance rehearsal?

A learning technique that involves repeatedly reviewing information to keep it in short term memory

What is elaborative rehearsal?

A memory technique involving deep processing by adding meaning

What are retrieval cues?

Stimuli that help bring back previously learned information to mind

What is the difference between recall and recognition?

Recall is when you retrieve information without help, and recognition involves identifying Information once it is presented

What is context dependent memory?

Phenomenon where information is remembered better in the same environment in which is was learned

What is state-dependent memory?

Phenomenon where memory retrieval is most effective when an individual is in the same state of consciousness as when the information was learned

What is mood congruent memory?

Our tendency to recall information that is consistent with our current mood

What is the serial position effect?

Our tendency to remember items at the beginning and end of a list better than those in the middle

What is the primacy effect?

A phenomenon where you remember information presented first because you have more time to rehearse it

What is the recency effect?

A phenomenon where the most recently presented information is remembered more accurately because it is still in short-term memory

What is the testing effect?

testing yourself on information is more effective regarding memory than cramming

What is the forgetting curve?

The graphical rate at which information is forgotten

What is an encoding failure?

When information doesn’t enter long term memory due to an issue with processing

What is proactive interference?

Something that occurs when older memories inhibit the ability to remember new information

What is retroactive interference?

When new learning impairs the recall of old information

What is the tip of the tongue phenomenon?

When an idicidual feels confident that they know a word, but cannot immediately recall it

What is source amnesia?

The inability to remember how you learned information while retaining the factual knowledge

What is anterograde amnesia?

The inability to form new memories

What is retrograde amnesia?

The inability to recall old memories

What is infantile amnesia?

Most people cannot recall personal memories from the early years of their life

What causes Alzheimer’s disease?

The failure of glial cells to support neurons

What is Alzheimer’s disease?

A neurological disorder that causes memory loss and cognitive decline

What is repression?

When distressing thoughts and memories are blocked from awareness as a method of protecting from psychological pain

What is constructive memory?

When we remember things, our brain rebuilds the memory, mixing it with newer information

What is the misinformation effect?

When new incorrect information influences how we remember events