Psych study Unit 1: Memory

What are the three memory processes?

Encoding, storage, and retrieval.

What is encoding in memory processes?

Getting information into memory.

What is storage in memory processes?

Retaining information over time.

What is retrieval in memory processes?

Recovering stored information.

What are the three storage systems of memory?

Sensory memory, short-term memory, and long-term memory.

What is the capacity and duration of sensory memory?

Very brief storage; about ¼ second.

What is the capacity and duration of short-term memory?

10–20 seconds; capacity estimates are 7±2 (Miller) and 4±1 (Cowan).

What is the capacity and duration of long-term memory?

Information can remain for minutes to years, with no known capacity limit.

What does proactive interference refer to?

Old information interferes with learning or recalling newer information.

What does retroactive interference refer to?

New information interferes with learning or recalling older information.

What is retrograde amnesia?

Memory loss for events before an injury.

What is anterograde amnesia?

Memory loss for events after an injury.

What did Loftus and Palmer study?

The influence of wording on eyewitness memory.

What was a key finding from Loftus and Palmer's study?

Misleading wording can influence speed estimates and eyewitness reports.

What is a semantic network?

A network of concepts connected by associations.

What is a schema?

A mental framework of knowledge about a topic, situation, or experience.

How do semantic networks and schemas differ?

Semantic networks focus on how individual concepts are linked, while schemas focus on organized expectations and knowledge.

What is the difference between declarative and nondeclarative memory?

Declarative memory is for facts and events you can consciously recall, while nondeclarative memory is expressed through skills and habits without conscious recall.

What are the two types of declarative memory?

Semantic memory (facts) and episodic memory (personal experiences).

What is chunking in short-term memory?

Grouping information into meaningful units to enhance memory.

What is the phonological loop in working memory?

A component that processes verbal and auditory information.

What is the visuospatial sketchpad in working memory?

A component that processes visual and spatial information.

What is the central executive in working memory?

The component that directs attention and manages the other working memory subsystems.

What is the episodic buffer in working memory?

A component that integrates information across domains and links to long-term memory.

What is the misinformation effect?

When misleading information affects a person's memory of an event.

What are source-monitoring errors?

Mistakes made when identifying the origins of a memory.