Unit 2 AP Psychology

Storage

the process of retaining encoded information over time.

Retrieval

the process of getting information out of memory storage.

Explicit Memory

retention of facts and experiences that we can consciously know and"declare." (Also called declarative memory.)

Episodic Memory

explicit memory of personally experienced events; one of our two conscious memory systems (the other is semantic memory).

Semantic Memory

explicit memory of facts and general knowledge; one of our two conscious memory systems (the other is episodic memory).

Implicit Memory

retention of learned skills or classically conditioned associations independent of conscious recollection. (Also called nondeclarative memory.)

Procedural Memory

a type of long-term memory that stores information about how to perform actions or skills

Prospective Memory

the cognitive ability to remember to perform a planned action or recall a planned intention at a specific time in the future

Long term potentiation

persistent strengthening of synapses between neurons, resulting from repeated stimulation

working memory model

a cognitive system with limited capacity that temporarily holds information while actively manipulating it, allowing for complex mental processes like reasoning and decision-making

Primary Memory System

the initial stage of memory, often synonymous with "sensory memory," which is a very brief holding area for sensory information that is quickly processed and either transferred to short-term memory or forgotten if not attended to

Working Memory

a newer understanding of short-term memory; conscious, active processing of both (1) incoming sensory information and (2) information retrieved from long-term memory.

Central Executive

a memory component that coordinates the activities of the phonological loop and visuospatial sketchpad.

Phonological Loop

a memory component that briefly holds auditory information.

visuospatial sketchpad

a memory component that briefly holds information about objects' appearance and location in space.

Long term memory

the storage of information in the brain that can be held for extended periods of time, essentially indefinitely, with a seemingly unlimited capacity, allowing individuals to recall memories from years past

Multi Store Model

human memory has three different modes, and a separate control process accompanies each mode

Sensory Memory

the initial stage of memory where sensory information from the environment is briefly stored, acting as a temporary holding area for raw sensory data before it is processed further into short-term memory

Iconic Memory

a momentary sensory memory of visual stimuli; a photographic or picture-image memory lasting no more than a few tenths of a second.

Echoic Memory

a momentary sensory memory of auditory stimuli; if attention is elsewhere, sounds and words can still be recalled within 3 or 4 seconds.

Automatic Processing

unconscious encoding of incidental information, such as space, time, and frequency, and of familiar or well-learned information, such as sounds, smells, and word meanings.

Effortful Processing

encoding that requires attention and conscious effort.

Encoding

the process of getting information into the memory system — for example, by extracting meaning.

Storage

the process of retaining encoded information over time.

Retrieval

the process of getting information out of memory storage.

Levels of Processing Model

describes memory recall of stimuli as a function of the depth of mental processing

Shallow Encoding

the process of storing information based on its superficial characteristics like appearance or sound, rather than its meaning, leading to poor memory retention as the information is not deeply processed and easily forgotten

Deep Encoding

the process of storing information in memory by focusing on its meaning and significance, rather than just its surface characteristics, leading to better recall and retention compared to shallow encoding

Structural, Phonemic, and Semantic Encoding

represent progressively deeper levels of processing figure out the def urself lol sorry

Encoding

The process of putting new information into memory

Mnemonic Devices

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

Method of Loci

a mnemonic technique where a person visualizes placing items they want to remember at specific locations within a familiar environment

Chunking

organizing items into familiar, manageable units; often occurs automatically.

Categories

refers to the different principles used to organize sensory information into meaningful patterns

Hierarchies

a system where individuals or concepts are ranked one above another based on specific criteria, creating a structured order where some elements are considered superior or subordinate to others

Spacing Effect

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

Memory Consolidation

the neural storage of a long-term memory.

Massed Practice

a study method where a large amount of information is learned in a short period of time

Distributed Practice

a learning strategy where studying is broken up into multiple short sessions spread out over a longer period of time, rather than cramming all the information in one sitting

Serial Position Effect

our tendency to recall best the last items in a list initially (a recency effect), and the first items in a list after a delay (a primacy effect).

Primacy Effect

the tendency for people to better remember information presented at the beginning of a list or sequence

Recency Effect

the tendency for people to best remember the last items presented in a sequence

Sensory Memory

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

Short term Memory

briefly activated memory of a few items (such as digits of a phone number while calling) that is later stored or forgotten.

Working Memory

a newer understanding of short-term memory; conscious, active processing of both (1) incoming sensory information and (2) information retrieved from long-term memory.

long-term memory

the relatively permanent and limitless archive of the memory system. Includes knowledge, skills, and experiences.

Maintenance Rehearsal

the process of repeatedly saying or thinking about a piece of information to keep it active in your short-term memory

Elaborative Rehearsal

a memory strategy where new information is actively connected and related to existing knowledge in your memory, by thinking about its meaning and forming associations, which helps to transfer information into long-term storage

Memory Retention

the ability to store and recall previously learned information or experiences

Autobiographical Memory

a person's recollection of personal experiences and events from their own life, essentially their personal history, drawing on a combination of episodic and semantic memories to create a coherent narrative of their life story

Retrograde Amnesia

an inability to remember information from one's past.

Anterograde Amnesia

an inability to form new memories.

Alzheimers Disease

a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that causes a gradual decline in cognitive functions like memory, reasoning, and language abilities due to the degeneration and death of brain cells

Infantile Amnesia

the inability of adults to recall episodic memories from their early childhood, typically before the age of 2-4 years old, due to the underdeveloped brain structures necessary for memory consolidation during infancy