Cognition, Problem Solving, and Memory Review

Fill-in-the-blank practice flashcards for key vocabulary terms on cognition, problem solving, decision making, memory systems, encoding, retrieval, and forgetting.

The mental activities involved in acquiring, processing, storing, and using knowledge are known as __________.

Cognition

Thinking about and being aware of your own thinking is referred to as __________.

Metacognition

A mental category that groups similar objects, events, ideas, or people is called a __________.

Concept

A mental image or example that represents the most typical features of a category is a __________.

Prototype

A mental framework that organizes and interprets information is known as a __________.

Schema

Interpreting new information using an existing schema is called __________.

Assimilation

Changing an existing schema or creating a new one to fit new information is known as __________.

Accommodation

The ability to produce ideas that are both novel and useful is defined as __________.

Creativity

Narrowing possible solutions to find one correct answer is called __________.

Convergent thinking

Expanding in many directions to generate multiple possible solutions is referred to as __________.

Divergent thinking

Mental processes used to plan, organize, control attention, and regulate behavior are known as __________.

Executive functions

A step-by-step procedure that guarantees a solution if followed correctly is an __________.

Algorithm

A mental shortcut used to make judgments or solve problems quickly is a __________.

Heuristic

A sudden realization of a solution to a problem is called __________.

Insight

The tendency to search for or interpret information that supports what you already believe is known as __________.

Confirmation bias

The inability to see a problem from a new perspective is referred to as __________.

Fixation

The tendency to use a strategy that has worked in the past, even when a better strategy exists, is called a __________.

Mental set

An immediate judgment or decision that occurs without deliberate reasoning is ___________.

Intuition

Judging something based on how well it matches a typical example or stereotype relies on the __________.

Representativeness heuristic

Judging the likelihood of something based on how easily examples come to mind relies on the __________.

Availability heuristic

The tendency to be more confident in your judgments or abilities than is justified is known as __________.

Overconfidence

Holding onto a belief even after the evidence supporting it has been disproven is known as __________.

Belief perseverance

The way an issue or choice is presented, which can influence how people respond to it, is called __________.

Framing

A small change in the way choices are presented that encourages a particular behavior without removing other choices is a __________.

Nudge

The persistence of learning over time through the storage and retrieval of information is ___________.

Memory

Retrieving information without being given the answer or choices is known as __________.

Recall

Identifying information that you have previously learned is called __________.

Recognition

Learning something again more quickly than you learned it originally is called __________.

Relearning

The psychologist who pioneered the experimental study of memory and forgetting was __________.

Herman Ebbinghaus

The process of getting information into memory is called __________.

Encoding

The retention of encoded information over time is known as __________.

Storage

The process of getting information out of memory is called __________.

Retrieval

Processing multiple aspects of information simultaneously is referred to as __________.

Parallel processing

The immediate, very brief recording of sensory information is called __________.

Sensory memory

A limited-capacity memory system that briefly holds information is __________.

Short-term memory

The relatively permanent and potentially unlimited store of information is ___________.

Long-term memory

Psychologist __________ is associated with the Atkinson-Shiffrin model of memory alongside Richard Shiffrin.

Richard Atkinson

Psychologist __________ is associated with the Atkinson-Shiffrin model of memory alongside Richard Atkinson.

Richard Shiffrin

A short-term memory system that actively holds and manipulates information is called __________.

Working memory

The part of working memory that directs attention and coordinates the other components is the __________.

Central executive

The working-memory component that temporarily stores and rehearses verbal and auditory information is the __________.

Phonological loop

The working-memory component that temporarily stores and manipulates visual and spatial information is the __________.

Visuospatial sketchpad

The formation of new neurons is known as __________.

Neurogenesis

A lasting strengthening of connections between neurons that occurs after repeated stimulation and is associated with learning and memory is __________.

Long-term potentiation (LTP)

Memory of facts and experiences that you consciously know and can deliberately recall is __________.

Explicit memory

Encoding that requires conscious attention and effort is called __________.

Effortful processing

Unconscious encoding of information, often involving space, time, frequency, or well-learned information, is __________.

Automatic processing

Unconscious memory that affects behavior, such as skills and conditioned responses, is __________.

Implicit memory

Very brief sensory memory for visual information is known as __________.

Iconic memory

Very brief sensory memory for auditory information is known as __________.

Echoic memory

The psychologist known for research on the capacity of short-term memory and the concept of chunking is __________.

George Miller

Organizing information into meaningful groups to make it easier to remember is called __________.

Chunking

Memory aids or techniques that help people remember information are called __________.

Mnemonics

The tendency for information to be remembered better when studying is spread out over time is the __________.

Spacing effect

Improved long-term memory that results from actively retrieving information through testing or practice is the __________.

Testing effect

Encoding information based mainly on its physical or superficial characteristics is called __________.

Shallow processing

Encoding information based on its meaning, which generally produces stronger memory, is called __________.

Deep processing

Memory for facts, meanings, words, and general knowledge is __________.

Semantic memory

Memory for personally experienced events and experiences is called __________.

Episodic memory

A brain structure important for forming and consolidating new explicit memories is the __________.

Hippocampus

The brain region involved in memory processing, planning, decision-making, and other higher-level functions is the __________.

Frontal lobe

The brain structure involved in movement, balance, coordination, and certain forms of implicit memory is the __________.

Cerebellum

Brain structures involved in movement, habits, and procedural learning are the __________.

Basal ganglia

The brain structure involved in emotion, especially emotional memories and fear-related learning, is the __________.

Amygdala

The process of stabilizing and strengthening a memory after it has been encoded is __________.

Memory consolidation

A vivid, detailed memory of an emotionally significant event is a __________.

Flashbulb memory

The activation of associations in memory that influences later thoughts or behavior is __________.

Priming

The idea that retrieval is more successful when the conditions during retrieval resemble those during encoding is the __________.

Encoding specificity principle

The tendency to remember experiences that match your current mood is __________.

Mood-congruent memory

The tendency to remember the beginning and end of a list better than the middle is the __________.

Serial position effect

Mixing different topics or types of problems during studying rather than studying one type at a time is __________.

Interleaving

The inability to form new long-term memories after an injury or event is __________.

Anterograde amnesia

The inability to remember information from before an injury or event is __________.

Retrograde amnesia

When old information interferes with the ability to remember new information, it is called __________.

Proactive interference

When new information interferes with the ability to remember old information, it is called __________.

Retroactive interference

A defense mechanism involving the unconscious blocking of distressing memories is __________.

Repression

When misleading information received after an event alters memory of the original event, it is known as the __________.

Misinformation effect

The process by which a retrieved memory can be modified and stored again is __________.

Reconsolidation

The fading of a memory over time when it is not accessed or maintained is called __________.

Memory trace decay

The idea that what gets encoded into memory determines what can later be retrieved is the __________.

Encoding effect

Remembering information but forgetting where, when, or from whom you learned it is __________.

Source amnesia

The feeling that you have experienced a present situation before is called __________.

Déjà vu