Cognitive psychology midterm 2

Encoding

transforming sensory input into a form that can be stored in memory

Storage

holding information over time

Retrieval

accessing stored information when needed

Sensory memory

very brief retention of sensory information, iconic memory is visual and echoic memory is auditory

Short-term memory (STM)

limited-capacity memory store holds 7 items plus or minus 2

Long-term memory (LTM)

storage for information retained for long durations

Phonological loop

handles verbal and auditory information

Word length effect

the ability to easily recall shorter words

Visuospatial sketchpad

stores and manipulates visual and spatial information

Mental rotation

the ability to imagine an object and the way it moves

Episodic buffer

a storage component of working memory that combines the images and sounds from the other two components into coherent, story-like episodes

Primacy effect

tendency to remember words at the beginning of a list especially well

Recency effect

tendency to remember words at the end of a list especially well

Proactive interference

old information interferes with learning new information

Retroactive interference

new information interferes with remembering old information

Episodic memory

personal experiences with contextual details

Semantic memory

general knowledge and facts

Procedural memory

memory of how to perform tasks, motor skills

HM case

His hippocampus was removed, he wasn't able to create new episodic memories but retained procedural skills

Anterograde amnesia

an inability to form new memories

KF case

suffered brain damage from an accident; impaired STM but intact LTM

Retrograde amnesia

an inability to retrieve information from one's past

Double dissassociation

when one perceptual function can be damaged without affecting the other ex STM and LTM rely on different brain areas

Serial position curve

graph depicting both primacy and recency effects on people's ability to recall items on a list

Encoding specificity principle

the idea that cues and contexts specific to a particular memory will be most effective in helping us recall it

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

Self-reference effect

tendency to better remember information relevant to ourselves

Generation effect

memory for material is better when a person generates the material him- or herself, rather than passively receiving it

Maintenance rehearsal

repetition without meaning

Elaborative rehearsal

associating new information with existing knowledge

Synaptic consolidation

a process of consolidation that involves structural changes at synapses that happen rapidly, over a period of minutes

Systems consolidation

a consolidation process that involves the gradual reorganization of circuits within brain regions and takes place on a long time scale, lasting weeks, months, or even years

Sleep and consolidation

sleeping enhances memory consolidations, particularly for emotionally significant information

Testing effect

enhanced memory after retrieving, rather than simply rereading, information

Autobiographical memory

combines episodic and semantic components, incorporating sensory and emotional details

Flashbulb memories

vivid memories for significant events ex where were you during 9/11, often recalled confidently but are susceptible to distortion over time

Misinformation effect

when post-event information alters an individuals memory of an event

Eyewitness testimony

factors like cross-race bias, weapon focus etc can alter accuracy

Cognitive interview

a method to enhance recall without leading questions

Source monitoring

determining the origin of a memory, errors can lead to attributing a memory to the wrong source

Constructive memory

memory is a constructive process, influenced by personal knowledge ,expectations and beliefs