unit 4 learning psych final exam

Atkinson-Shiffrin Model

structural model of memory: sensor memory, short-term memory, long-term memory

central executive

the part of working memory that directs attention, regulates cognitive processes, and coordinates the phonological loop and visuosketchpad

chunking

grouping info into meaningful units to increase memory capacity

cognitive control

ability to regulate thoughts and behaviors in line with goals

echoic memory

brief auditory sensory memory for sound

echoic memory duration

3-4 seconds

episodic buffer

combines info from different sources into a single experience

iconic memory

very brief visual sensory memory

iconic memory duration

0.2-0.4 seconds

long-term memory

a relatively permanent and unlimited store of information

preservation

repeated execution of a behavior even when it is no longer awarded or appropriate

phonological loop

a part of working memory that temporarily stores verbal and auditory information

sensory memory

the immediate, initial recording of sensory information in the memory system

short-term memory

activated memory that holds a few items briefly, without rehearsal, before the information is stored or forgotten

stroop test

a standard measure of effortful control over responses, requiring participants to identify the color of a word (which may name a different color)

transient memory

Nonpermanent memory that lasts seconds or minutes, including sensory and short-term

visuospatial sketchpad

A component of working memory where we create mental images to remember visual information

word length effect

The notion that it is more difficult to remember a list of long words than a list of short words.

working memory

a part of STM that actively holds and processes information for ongoing tasks.

attributions

inferences that people draw about the causes of events, others' behavior, and their own behavior

attribution retraining

encourages learned-helpless children to believe that they can overcome failure by exerting more effort (therapeutic intervention)

cognitive expectancy

the belief that one's behavior will yield the desired outcome

conditioned avoidance

animals learn to make particular responses to avoid or prevent arrival of an unpleasant stimulus

conditioned emotional response

an emotional reaction that becomes associated with a previously neutral stimulus through conditioning

conditioned escape

animals learn to make particular responses in order to escape from or terminate an unpleasant stimulus

facial feedback hypothesis

emotional expressions can cause the emotional experiences they signify

fear response

A coordinated set of physiological, behavioral, and subjective reactions to a threat.

fight-or-flight

a reaction caused by adrenaline that prepares one to either fight the stressor or take flight and escape.

fixed view of ability

the belief that ability is stable and unchangeable

flashbulb memory

A vivid and detailed memory of an emotionally significant event.

incremental view of ability

the belief that ability can grow and improve with effort

learned helplessness

the hopelessness and passive resignation an animal or human learns when unable to avoid repeated aversive events

mastery-oriented attributions

attributions that credit success to ability, which can be improved by trying hard, and failure to insufficient effort

mood congruency of memory

the principle that it is easier to retrieve memories that match our current mood or emotional state

posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

a disorder characterized by haunting memories, nightmares, social withdrawal, jumpy anxiety, numbness of feeling, and/or insomnia that lingers for four weeks or more after a traumatic experience

alzheimer's disease

a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that causes severe memory loss and cognitive decline

dementia

a broad category of disorders involving decline in memory, reasoning, and other cognitive functions`

elicited imitation

a method for assessing memory in infants by demonstrating an action and later testing whether the infant reproduces it

epigenetics

the study of how gene expression is influenced by environmental factors without changing DNA sequences

proactive interference

when previous memories interfere with the recall of newer information

retroactive interference

when recent information disrupts the recall of previous memories.

sensitive period

a developmental window during which the brain is especially receptive to certain types of learning