AP Psychology Unit 2.4/2.5 / 2.6 Encoding memories, Storing memories, and retrieving memories,

Mnemonic Devices

Techniques used to encode information in a way that aids in retrieval by connecting new information to something familiar

Method of Loci

A mnemonic device that relies on spatial relationships between Loci (ex. locations on a familiar route or rooms in a familiar building) to encode and later retrieve info

Distributed practice

a learning method in which information is reviewed for short durations over an extended length of time

Massed practice

a study method whereby a large amount of information is learned over a short period of time, usually over one or two classes or one night of studying

Anterograde Amnesia

Problems moving information from short term memory into long term memory due to damage to the hippocampus.

Retrograde Amnesia

Problems retrieving explicit memories from long term to working memory due to some damaged parts of the cortex

maintenance rehearsal

involves repeating information (out loud or in your head)

Elaborative rehearsal

a type of memory rehearsal that is useful in transferring information into long-term memory it involves thinking about the meaning of the information and connecting it to other information already stored in memory.

superior autobiographical memory

the ability to accurately recall an exceptional number of experiences and their associated dates from events occurring throughout much of one's lifetime

qualitative data.

data representing information and concepts that are not represented by numbers.

quantitative data.

data represented numerically, including anything that can be counted, measured, or given a numerical value

Retroactive interference

when new information causes someone to forget old information

The recency effect

a cognitive bias in which those items, ideas, or arguments that came last are remembered more clearly than those that came first

Conformation bias

the tendency to seek out and prefer information that supports our preexisting beliefs.

Hindsight bias

thinking you "knew it all along" after something happens, even though you couldn’t have predicted it before.

Overconfidence

Overestimating your abilities and how easy something will be while underestimating the challenges you'll face.

Recognition

a type of retrieval, Identifying something you’ve seen or learned before (like picking the right answer on a multiple-choice test).

Recall

a type of retrieval, Remembering something from memory without any hints (like answering an open-ended question).

Cued Recall

a type of memory retrieval where you are given a hint or prompt to help you remember something.

For example:
If you're trying to remember a list of words and someone says, "It was a fruit," that hint helps you recall "apple" from the list.

Mood-congruent memory

when you're more likely to remember things that match your current mood.

Context-dependent Memory

when you're more likely to remember something if you're in the same place or situation where you first learned it.

For example:
If you study in a quiet library, you might recall the information better when you're in a similar quiet setting.

State-dependent Memory

when you're more likely to remember something if you're in the same physical or emotional state as when you learned it.

For example:
If you learned something while feeling excited, you’ll remember it better when you're excited again.

Retrieval Practice

Practicing to retrieve information more better, an example of LTP(Long-Term-Potentiation)

Testing Effect

the idea that you remember things better when you test yourself on them instead of just rereading or studying.
For example:
Taking practice quizzes helps you learn and remember more than just reviewing your notes.

Metacognition

thinking about your own thinking. It involves being aware of how you learn, understand, and remember things, and using that awareness to improve your learning strategies.

For example:
Realizing that you understand a topic well and deciding to move on to something harder

Incubation

the process of taking a break from thinking about a problem, allowing your mind to unconsciously work on it, which can lead to new insights or solutions later.

For example:
If you're stuck on a puzzle, stepping away for a while might help you come up with the solution when you return to it.

Methodological flaw

is a mistake or weakness in the way a study or experiment is designed or conducted, which can affect the accuracy or reliability of the results.

For example:
If a survey is given to only one group of people and not a diverse range, that would be a methodological flaw because it doesn't represent everyone.

Confounding variable

a factor that affects both the independent and dependent variables in a study, making it hard to determine the true cause-and-effect relationship.

For example:
In a study on exercise and weight loss, age could be a confounding variable because it might influence both how much people exercise and how much weight they lose.

Memory consolidation

is the process by which short-term memories are transformed into long-term memories, making them more stable and easier to recall.