Psychology Unit 5: Memory

Automatic Processing

unconscious encoding of incidental information, such as space, time, and frequency, and of well-timed information

Flashbulb Memory

a clear sustained memory of an emotionally significant moment or event

Atkinson and Shiffrin 3-Stage Processing Model

in order for a memory to go into storage, it has to pass through three distinct stages: Sensory Memory, Short-Term Memory, and finally Long-Term Memory

Sensory Memory

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

Iconic Memory

a momentary sensory memory of visual stimuli

Echoic Memory

a momentary sensory memory of auditory stimuli

Short-Term Memory

activated memory that holds a few items briefly before the information is stored or forgotten

Long-Term Memory

the relatively permanent and limitless storehouse of the memory system

Episodic Memory

explicit memory of personally experienced events

Semantic Memory

explicit memory of facts and general knowledge

Explicit/Declarative Memory

retention of facts and experiences that one can consciously know and “declare”

Implicit/Non-DecIarative Memory

retention of learned skills or classically conditioned associations independent of conscious recollection

Retrieval

the process of getting information out of memory storage

Primacy Effect

the tendency to recall earlier words of a list

Recency Effect

the tendency to recall the later words of a list

Ebbinghaus

he pioneered the development of experimental methods for the measurement of rote learning and memory

Serial Position Effect

the tendency to remember the first few and last few words and are more likely to forget those in the middle of a list

Spacing Effect

the tendency for distributed study or practice to yield better long-term retention this is achieved through the mass study

Mood Congruent Memory

the tendency to recall experiences that are consistent with one’s current good or bad mood

Mnemonic Devices

memory aids

Method of Loci

a memory enhancement technique that combines visualization with spatial memory of familiar environments in order to quickly recall information

Priming

the activation, often unconsciously, of particular associations in memory

Forgetting

the failure to remember material previously learned

Retroactive Interference

the backward-acting disruptive effect of newer learning on the recall of old information

Proactive Interference

the forward-acting disruptive effect of older learning on the recall of new information

Anterograde Amnesia

a type of memory loss that occurs when you can't form new memories

Retrograde Amnesia

where you can't recall memories that were formed before the event that caused the amnesia

Hippocampus

a neural center located in the limbic system; helps process explicit conscious memories for storage

Long-Term Potentiation

an increase in a cell’s firing potential after brief, rapid stimulation

Rehearsal

the repetition of information in an attempt to maintain it longer

Encoding

the process of getting information into the memory system

Recall

a measure of memory in which the person must retrieve information learned earlier

Working Memory

a newer understanding of short-term memory that adds conscious

Eidetic or Photographic Memory

a person who seems able to recall visual information in great detail