Psychology-Ch.7-Memory- Key terms

Memory

processes involved in retaining, retrieving, and using information about stimuli, images, events, ideas, and skills after the original information is no longer present

Encoding

the process through which information enters our memory system

storage

the process of preserving information for possible recollection in the future

Retrieval

the process of accessing information encoded and stored in memory

sensory memory

a stage of memory that captures near-exact copies of vast amounts of sensory stimuli for a very brief period of time

short-term memory

a stage of memory that temporarily maintains and processes a limited amount of information

long-term memory

a stage of memory with essentially unlimited capacity that stores enduring information about facts and experiences

iconic memory

Visual impressions that are photograph-like in their accuracy but dissolve in less than a second; a form of sensory memory.

echoic memory

exact copies of the sounds we hear; a form of sensory memory

maintenance rehearsal

Technique of repeating information to be remembered, increasing the length of time it can be held in short-term memory.

Chunking

Grouping numbers, letters, or other items into meaningful subsets as a strategy for increasing the quantity of information that can be maintained in short-term memory.

working memory

The active processing of information in short-term memory; the maintenance and manipulation of information in the memory system.

explicit memory

A type of memory you are aware of having and can consciously express in words or declare, including memories of facts and experiences.

implicit memory

a memory of something you know or know how to do, which may be automatic, unconscious, and difficult to bring to awareness and express

semantic memory

The memory of information theoretically available to anyone, which pertains to general facts about the world; a type of explicit memory.

episodic memory

The record of memorable experiences or "episodes" including when and where an experience occurred; a type of explicit memory.

flashbulb memory

detailed recollections of when and where we heard about shocking events

procedural memory

The unconscious memory of how to carry out a variety of skills and activities; a type of implicit memory.

mnemonics

Techniques for improving memory, especially by making connections between new material and information already in long-term memory.

effortful processing

encoding that requires attention and conscious effort

masses practice

studying for long periods of time without breaks

distributed practice

spreading out study sessions over time with breaks in between

retrieval cues

Stimuli that are used to bring a memory to consciousness or into behavior

priming

the stimulation of memories as a result of retrieval cues in the environment

recall

The process of retrieving information held in long-term memory without the help of explicit retrieval cues.

recognition

The process of matching incoming data to information stored in long-term memory.

Serial Positition Effect

The ability to recall items in a list depends on where they are in the series.

primacy effect

tendency to remember words at the beginning of a list especially well

recency effect

tendency to remember words at the end of a list especially well

encoding specificity principle

memories are more easily recalled when the context and cues at the time of encoding are similar to those at the time of retrieval

relearning

material learned previously is acquired more quickly in subsequent exposures

proactive interference

The tendency for information learned in the past t interfere with the retrieval of new material

retroactive interference

the tendency for recently learned information to interfere with the retrieval of things learned in the past

misinformation effect

the tendency of misleading information presented after an event to alter the memories of the event itself

rich false memories

recollections of an event that never occurred, which are expressed with emotions and confidence and include details

anterograde amnesia

a type of memory loss; an inability to create new memories following damage or injury to the brain

retrograde amnesia

A type of memory loss; an inability to access memories formed prior to damage or injury to the brain, or difficulty retrieving them.

memory trace

the location where memories are etched in the brain via physiological changes

long-term potentiation

the increased efficiency of neural communication over time, resulting in learning the formation of memories

Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE)

A neurodegenerative disease that leads to atypical deposits of tau protein throughout various regions in the brain as a result of repeated mild traumatic brain injury.