parallel processing
processing many aspects of a problem simultaneously
memory
the persistence of learning over time
encoding
getting information into the brain
storage
retaining encoded information
retrieval
getting encoded information back out
sensory memory
the brief/immediate recording of sensory information
short term memory
activated memory that holds information briefly
long term memory
relatively permanent/limitless storehouse of memory system
working memory
newer understanding of short term memory
explicit memory
memory of facts/experiences that one can know and declare
effortful processing
encoding that requires conscious effort
automatic processing
unconscious encoding of incidental information
implicit memory
retention independent of conscious recollection
iconic memory
momentary sensory memory of a visual stimuli
echoic memory
momentary sensory memory of auditory stimuli
chunking
organizing items into units, often automatic
mneumonics
memory aids
spacing effect
tendency for distributed study to yield better long term retention
testing effect
enhanced memory after retrieving information, not just rereading it
shallow processing
basic level encoding based on appearance of words
deep processing
encoding semantically based on meaning of words
hippocampus
neural center in limbic system
flashbulb memory
clear memory of an emotionally significant event/moment
long term potentiation
increase in cellsâs firing after brief stimulation, the neural basis for learning and memory
recall
measure of memory requiring the retrieval of information
recognition
measure of memory that involves identifying previously learned items
relearning
measure of memory that assesses time saved when learning material again
anterograde amnesia
inability to form new memories
retrograde amnesia
inability to retrieve information from oneâs past
proactive interference
disruptive effect of prior learning on the recall of new information
retroactive interference
disruptive effect of new learning on the recall of old information
repression
basic defense that blocks traumatic memories from consciousness
misinformation effect
incorporating misleading information into memory and then believing it
source amnesia
attributing the wrong source to an event
deja vu
thinking youâve experienced something before when you really havenât
cognition
all mental activities such as thinking, learning, and remembering
concept
a mental grouping of similar things
prototype
a mental image/best example of a category
creativity
ability to produce novel/valuable ideas
convergent thinking
narrows down possibilities to find the single best solution
divergent thinking
expands the number of possible solutions to a problem
algorithm
methodical procedure that guarantees solving a particular problem
heuristic
simple thinking strategy that allows us to solve problems efficiently
insight
the sudden realization of a problemâs solution
confirmation bias
tendency to search for information that supports our opinion
mental set
tendency to approach a problem in one particular way
intuition
effortless thought or feeling
representativeness heuristic
judging likelihood in terms of how well it matches a certain prototype
availability heuristic
estimating likelihood based on availability of events in memory
overconfidence
tendency to be more confident than correct
belief perseverance
clinging to your initial conceptions even after being discredited
language
our words and how we combine them to create meaning
phoneme
smallest distinctive sound unit in language
morpheme
smallest unit in language that carries meaning
grammar
rules of language
babbling stage
starts around 4 months old, baby spontaneously utters random sounds
one word stage
1-2 y/o, child speaks mostly single words
two word stage
starts around 2 y/o, child mostly speaks in 2 word statements
telegraphic speech
early speech stage where child mostly uses nouns and verbs
aphasia
the impairment of language, usually due to a damages brocas/wernickes area
brocas area
in the left frontal lobe, controls language expression
wernickes area
in the left temporal lobe, controls language reception
linguistic determinism
whorfâs hypothesis that language determines how we think
intelligence
mental quality based on problem solving, learning, and using knowledge
intelligence test
method to assess mental aptitude
general intelligence
a general mental ability that underlies multiple specific skills, including verbal, spatial, numerical and mechanical
factor analysis
statistical procedure that identifies clusters of related items
savant syndrome
when a person with limited mental ability is exceptional at a certain skill
grit
passion and perseverance in pursuit of goals
emotional intelligence
the ability to manage, perceive, and use emotions
mental age
age that typically corresponds to performance
stanford-binet
the revision of binetâs original intelligence test
intelligence quotient (iq)
mental age divided by chronological age x 100
achievement test
test designed to assess what someone has learned
aptitude test
test to predict future performance
wechsler adult intelligence scale (wais)
most widely used intelligence test, has verbal and nonverbal subtests
standardization
defining uniform procedures based on pretests
normal curve
bell curve, even distribution
reliability
how consistent test results are
validity
the extent that a test measures what its supposed to
content validity
the extent that a test samples the behavior of interest
predictive validity
the success that a test predicts what its designed to
cohort
group of people from a given time period
crystallized intelligence
accumulated knowledge/verbal skills, increases with age
fluid intelligence
ability to reason quickly/abstractly, decreases during late adulthood
intellectual disability
limited mental ability, IQ less than or equal to 70
down syndrome
mild to severe intellectual disability, extra copy of chromosome 21
heritability
proportion of variation attributable to genetics
stereotype threat
self confirming concern that you will be judged based on bad stereotypes
cross sectional study
research that involves multiple groups of people at the same time
illusory correlation
perceiving a relationship among variables but none exists
confounding variable
a third, unaccounted for variable that could skew the results of a study
scatterplot
a graph of the relationship between two variables
pet scan
an image made using positron emission tomography, in color
endorphins
neurotransmitters linked to pain and pleasure
plasticity
the ability of the brain to adapt and change over time
thalamus
sensory switchboard in the brain
learned helplessness
helplessness that is learned when unable to avoid repeated adverse events
sleep apnea
when breathing starts and stops during sleep
mirror neurons
in the frontal lobe, fire when performing/watching certain actions, can enable empathy