Psychology 150 – Chapter 8: 2nd Memory Study Guide

A comprehensive set of flashcards covering key concepts, definitions, and structures related to memory processes, types, brain functions, and strategies for improving memory.

What is memory?

The set of processes used to encode, store, and retrieve information.

What are the three processes of memory?

Encoding, Storage, and Retrieval.

What is encoding in memory?

The process of getting information into our memory system.

What is automatic processing?

Unconscious encoding of details such as time, space, and frequency.

What is effortful processing?

Requires attention and effort, such as studying for an exam.

What is semantic encoding?

Encoding of meaning, the deepest level of processing.

What is visual encoding?

Encoding of images.

What is acoustic encoding?

Encoding of sounds, especially words.

What is storage in memory?

Keeping information for later use.

What types of memory systems does storage include?

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

What is retrieval in memory?

Getting information out of memory storage.

What is recall?

Accessing information without cues.

What is recognition?

Identifying information you’ve seen before.

What is relearning?

Relearning something more quickly the second time.

What is sensory memory?

Holds sensory input long enough to transfer it to short-term memory.

What is the duration of iconic memory?

Lasts about ½ second.

What is the duration of echoic memory?

Lasts 3–4 seconds.

What is short-term memory (STM)?

Holds information temporarily for processing.

What is the capacity of short-term memory according to Miller's Law?

About 7 ± 2 items.

What is long-term memory (LTM)?

Stores information for future retrieval, potentially permanent.

What is explicit (declarative) memory?

Consciously recalled and can be verbalized.

What are the types of explicit memory?

Episodic memory and semantic memory.

What is episodic memory?

Personal experiences and events.

What is semantic memory?

Facts and general knowledge.

What is implicit (nondeclarative) memory?

Unconscious recall that affects behavior automatically.

What type of memory is procedural memory?

How to do things, such as riding a bike.

What is classical conditioning in memory?

Associations formed between stimuli.

What is priming in memory?

Exposure to one stimulus influences response to another.

What part of the brain is critical for forming new declarative memories?

Hippocampus.

What does the amygdala do in relation to memory?

Attaches emotion to memories, particularly fear and aggression.

What is the function of the cerebellum in memory?

Involved in procedural memories and motor learning.

What role does the prefrontal cortex play in memory?

Involved in working memory and retrieval.

What is the importance of the temporal lobe in memory?

Important for recognition and long-term storage.

What is anterograde amnesia?

Inability to form new memories.

What is retrograde amnesia?

Loss of old memories prior to trauma.

What is the Ebbinghaus Forgetting Curve?

Most forgetting happens soon after learning.

What is proactive interference?

Old information interferes with new information.

What is retroactive interference?

New information interferes with old information.

What is the misinformation effect?

Memory altered by misleading information.

What are mnemonic devices?

Techniques such as acronyms, imagery, and rhymes that aid memory.