AP Psychology-Memory

memory

the persistence of learning over time through encoding, storage, and retrieval of information; things we have learned or experienced

recall

a measure of memory in which a person must retrieve information learned earlier; no cues involved with this, you either know it or not

recognition

a measure of memory in which a person identifies items previously learned, can be triggered by cues that allow us to remember

relearning

a measure of memory that assesses the amount of time saved when learning materials again

hermann ebbinghaus

pioneer researcher in the area of memory 

forgetting curve

strong initial drop of not remembering material learned; initially drops 60% then decreases

levels of processing model

the more you work with the material, the easier you will remember it

parallel distributed processing (PDP) model

the more you come in contact with the information, the stronger the synapses will grow, spiderweb of neurons

transfer appropriate model

if you want to achieve something, you need to know how to achieve it; if how you prepare matches how you retrieve, you’ll do better

information processing model

involved with encoding, storage, and retrieval of information learned

encoding

translating sensory information into neural connections

storage

access for later use; schemas

retrieval

recovering the info from storage to use again

sensory memory

place where the environmental stimuli travels before encoding occurs

short term memory

also known as working memory, second stage where the stimuli is encoded for a short period of time, capacity is limited

capacity of working memory

7+-2 units

long term memory

memory/information is permanently held

visuospatial sketchpad

holds and manipulates visual images and spacial information

phonological loop

responsible for holding and manipulating verbal/auditory information

central executive

controls and coordinates the visuospatial sketchpad and the phonological loop

neurogenesis

the formation of new neurons

long-term potentiation

an increase in a nerve cell’s firing potential after brief, rapid stimulations

effortful processing

encoding the requires attentions and conscious effort

automatic processing

unconscious encoding of incidental information or well-learned information

explicit memory

retention of facts and experiences that we can consciously know and declare; actively trying to recall

implicit memory

memory triggered in your head; retention of learned skills or classically conditioned associations independent of conscious recollection

iconic memory

sensory memory of visual stimuli, processes of holding an image for only a few tenths of a second

echoic memory

sensory memory of an auditory stimuli that able to be recalled within 3-4 seconds

george miller

guy linked with the short term memory capacity

brown-peterson principle

test that shows our limited short term memory duration of 18-30 seconds

chunking

way of expanding STM capacity, the organization of items into familiar, manageable units

mnemonics

way of expanding STM capacity, memory aids that use vivid imagery and organizational devices

method of loci

involves mentally placing info you want to remember in a familiar physical location

spacing effect

the tendency for distributed study to yield better long-term retention

testing effect

enhancing memory after retrieving, rather than rereading information

shallow processing

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

deep processing

encoding semantically, based on the meaning of the words

flashbulb memory

a clear memory of an emotionally significant moment