Forming/Storing Memories

Chunking

organizing items into familiar, manageable units; often occurs automatically

Mnemonics

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

Hierarchies

dividing and subdividing information into narrower concepts and facts

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. Also sometimes referred to as a retrieval practice effect or test-enhanced learning.

shallow processing

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

deep processing

encoding semantically, based on the meaning of the words, tends to yield the best retention

Semantic memories

facts and general knowledge

Episodic memories

experienced events

Memory consolidation

the neural storage of a long-term memory

Hippocampus

can be linked to a "save" button for explicit memories

Cerebellum

forming and storing the implicit memories

Basal ganglia

from our procedural memories for skills

Amygdala

Stress provokes it to initiate a memory trace that boosts activity in the brain's memory-forming areas

Flashbulb memories

a clear memory of an emotionally significant moment or event