Cognitive Processes Exam 2 Study Guide

Flashcards based on key cognitive processes and memory models as covered in the lecture notes.

Levels of Processing

A theory that proposes memory is a continuum; how well something is remembered depends on how deeply it was processed.

Shallow Processing

A type of cognitive processing that involves basic features like structure (how a word looks) and acoustics (how it sounds).

Deep Processing

Involves semantic meaning and connections, leading to more permanent memory traces and better recall.

Maintenance Rehearsal

Simple repetition of information that keeps it in short-term memory but is weak for long-term retention.

Elaborative Rehearsal

Adding meaning or connections to information, which is much more effective for long-term memory.

Episodic Memory

Memory for events tied to a specific time and place, featuring a temporal tag.

Semantic Memory

General knowledge about the world that does not have a time tag; includes facts and concepts.

Explicit Memory

Conscious recall of facts and experiences, requiring effortful retrieval.

Implicit Memory

Memory that influences behavior without conscious awareness; often cannot be explicitly recalled.

Dual Coding Theory

The idea that information can be encoded both verbally and visually, enhancing memory recall.

Encoding Specificity

The principle that recall is better when the retrieval context matches the learning context.

Mood Congruence Effect

The tendency to recall information that is consistent with one's current mood.

Pollyanna Principle

The phenomenon where people tend to remember pleasant items and events more accurately than unpleasant ones.

Flashbulb Memories

Vivid, detailed memories of surprising, emotional events that are believed to remain unchanged over time.

Decay Theory

The hypothesis that forgetting occurs because memory traces fade over time if not reactivated.

Cue-Retrieval Failure

Forgetting that occurs when the cues used to trigger memory retrieval are ineffective.

Retroactive Interference

When new learning interferes with the recall of previously learned information.

Proactive Interference

When previously learned information interferes with the recall of new information.

Competition of Response

The idea that forgetting occurs due to competing responses associated with a given stimulus.

Schema

Cognitive structures that organize and interpret information based on previous experiences.

Assimilation

The process of integrating new information into existing schemas.

Accommodation

Modifying existing schemas or creating new ones to fit new information.

Object Permanence

The understanding that objects continue to exist even when they cannot be seen.

Functional Fixedness

The inability to see an object as having a function other than its typical one, which hinders problem solving.