Chapter 6 long term memory: structure

Long-term memory (LTM)

the system responsible for storing information for long periods, an archive of past events and knowledge

Serial Position Curve

a plot showing that memory is better for words at the beginning (primacy effect) and end (recency effect) of a list than for words in the middle

Primacy effect

enhanced memory for words presented at the beginning of a list

Recency effect

enhanced memory for words presented at the end of a list

Coding

the form in which stimuli are represented in the mind

Semantic Coding in STM (Wickens experiment)

occurs when information is processed in short-term memory based on meaning (e.g.

Proactive interference

when information learned previously interferes with learning new information

Semantic Coding in LTM (Sachs experiment)

remembering the general meaning of a passage for a long time

Recognition memory

identifying a stimulus that was encountered earlier

Patient H.M.

a neuropsychology case demonstrating that the hippocampus is crucial for forming new long-term memories (anterograde amnesia) while short-term memory remained intact

Episodic Memory

memory for specific experiences from the past

Semantic Memory

memory for facts and knowledge

Double dissociation (Episodic/Semantic)

demonstrated by patients like K.C. (lost episodic

Autobiographical Memory

memory for specific experiences from one's life

Personal semantic memories

facts associated with personal experiences

Remember/Know procedure

a technique where participants indicate remember (episodic recollection of context) or know (semantic familiarity without context) when identifying previously encountered stimuli

Semanticization of remote memories

the process where memories lose their episodic detail and become more semantic over time

Prospective memory

a type of memory used to remember and perform planned actions at some point in the future

Explicit memory (Declarative)

memories that involve conscious recollection of events or facts

Implicit memory (Nondeclarative)

memories that occur without conscious awareness

Procedural Memory (Skill memory)

implicit memory for doing things that usually involve learned skills (e.g.

Expert-induced amnesia

the phenomenon where experts cannot perform highly practiced procedural skills when they consciously focus attention on the process

Priming

an implicit memory effect where the presentation of a stimulus changes the response to the same or a similar stimulus later

Repetition priming

priming that occurs when the same stimulus is presented again

Propaganda effect

the tendency to rate statements previously encountered as being true

Classical Conditioning

a type of implicit memory involving the pairing of a neutral stimulus with a response-inducing stimulus

Operant (or Instrumental) Conditioning

a learning process where behavior is encouraged or discouraged by rewards or punishments