CH5: Long-Term Memory

Long-Term Memory

High-capacity storage for lifetime memories and knowledge.

Episodic Memory

Memory of personal experiences, such as details from your high school graduation.

Semantic Memory

Knowledge about the world, for example, knowing that Paris is the capital of France.

Procedural Memory

Memory of how to perform tasks, like knowing how to ride a bicycle.

Encoding

The process of converting information into memory.

Levels of Processing Theory

Suggests deeper processing (focusing on meaning) improves recall compared to shallow processing (focusing on superficial features).

Distinctiveness

Unique items that are easier to remember because they stand out.

Elaboration

Connecting new knowledge with existing information to enhance memory.

Encoding-Specificity Principle

Recall is better when the retrieval context matches the encoding context.

Explicit Memory

Conscious recollection of information.

Implicit Memory

Unconscious memory that influences behavior.

Retrograde Amnesia

Inability to recall events before a particular onset.

Anterograde Amnesia

Inability to form new memories after a certain onset.

Autobiographical Memory

Memory for personal experiences, often organized by schemas.

Flashbulb Memories

Vivid memories of emotional events that may not be accurate over time.

Misinformation Effect

Misremembering due to post-event details that alter recall.

Factors Affecting Eyewitness Testimony

Include stress, time delay, and social pressure, all of which can reduce accuracy.

Expertise and Memory

Experts remember relevant information more effectively than novices.

Emotions and Memory

Emotional events are generally better remembered than neutral events.

Recovered vs. False Memories

Controversies surrounding the recall of childhood traumas and the risk of false memories.