Memory Processes

Flashcards covering key concepts related to memory processes, techniques for improving memory, and phenomena related to forgetting.

Encoding

The process of transforming physical, sensory input into a representation that can be stored in memory.

Storage

The retention of encoded information in memory.

Retrieval

The process of gaining access to information that has been stored in memory.

Acoustic encoding

The process of encoding sounds, particularly spoken words, into memory, primarily utilized in short-term memory.

Semantic encoding

The process of encoding information based on its meaning, primarily used for long-term memory.

Consolidation

The process of integrating new information into existing stored information, during which memory is susceptible to disruption.

Metacognition

The ability to think about and control one’s own thought processes, including understanding and improving memory.

Rehearsal

The repeated recitation of information to keep it active in memory.

Distributed practice

A learning strategy where study sessions are spaced out over time, leading to better memory retention.

Massed practice

A learning strategy where study sessions are crammed into a short period of time, resulting in poorer memory retention.

Mnemonic devices

Techniques used to aid memory by creating associations, such as categorical clustering or the pegword system.

Categorization

The process of organizing information into categories, which affects retrieval through improved availability and accessibility.

Interference theory

The theory that forgetting occurs due to the interference of similar memories with one another.

Retroactive interference

Forgetting that occurs when new information interferes with the recall of previously learned information.

Proactive interference

Forgetting that occurs when old information interferes with the recall of newly learned information.

Recency effect

The tendency to remember the last items in a list better than those in the middle.

Primacy effect

The tendency to remember the first items in a list better than those in the middle.

Decay theory

The theory that memories fade and disappear over time if not accessed.

Constructive memory

The process by which prior experiences influence how we recall information, often leading to reconstructions of memories.

Autobiographical memory

A type of memory concerning personal history, which is constructive and can be subject to distortion.

Transience

The phenomenon where memories fade quickly over time.

Absent-mindedness

A lapse in memory caused by a failure to pay attention, often resulting in forgetting tasks.

Blocking

A memory phenomenon where an individual is unable to retrieve information that is known, often described as being on the tip of the tongue.

Misattribution

The confusion about the origins of a memory, where a person struggles to remember where they learned something.

Suggestibility

The tendency for people to incorporate misleading information into their memories due to suggestions.

Bias

The influence of personal beliefs or attitudes on one’s recollection, leading to altered memories.

Persistence

The phenomenon where people recall memories that are inconsequential or irrelevant over time.

Cognitive monitoring

The process involved in recognizing and controlling memory abilities and strategies.