AP psych memory (2.3-2.7)

idk brah u might just be cooked mr tournament back to back

Memory

the persistence of learning over time through encoding storage and retrieval of information

Alzheimer's disease

a progressive neurodegeneration that begins with short-term memory loss and can progress to loss of long-term memories and basic functions

Eidetic memory

never forgetting anything (photographic memory)

Recall

retrieving info not in conscious awareness but learned earlier

Recognition

identifying items previously learned

Relearning

learning something more quickly when encountered a second or later time

Ebbinghaus relearning effect

practicing nonsense syllables became easier each day showing reduced relearning time

Memory processes

encode store and retrieve information

Sensory memory

the immediate brief recording of sensory information

Short-term memory

holds a few items briefly before storage or forgetting

Long-term memory

relatively permanent limitless storehouse of knowledge skills and experiences

Automatic processing

unconscious encoding that allows info to bypass working memory

Working memory

consciously processes incoming sensory info and long-term info

Central executive

the component that coordinates the phonological loop and visuospatial sketchpad

Phonological loop

briefly holds auditory information

Visuospatial sketchpad

briefly holds visual and spatial information

Maintenance rehearsal

rote repetition without meaning making long-term storage unlikely

Elaborative rehearsal

linking new info to what one already knows to improve long-term storage

Long-term potentiation

the strengthening of synaptic connections with repeated stimulation

Explicit memory

consciously encoded declarative memories requiring effortful processing

Implicit memory

automatically encoded memories formed without conscious effort

Procedural memory

implicit memory for skills and routines

Incidental information

automatic encoding of space time frequency and word meaning

Sensory memory overview

a sensory “screenshot” of recent stimuli

Sperling experiment

flashing a 3×3 grid showed sensory memory is brief unless cued

Iconic memory

fleeting visual sensory memory

Echoic memory

fleeting auditory sensory memory

Short-term memory capacity

about 7 items ±2 that rapidly decay in 10–12 seconds

Working memory capacity

varies and is strongest in adolescence supporting creative problem solving

Chunking

grouping items to reduce STM load

Mnemonics

memory aids such as acronyms loci songs rhymes chunking and associations

Hierarchies

organizing info into structured categories or webs

Spacing effect

distributed practice improves retention

Testing effect

testing yourself strengthens encoding through retrieval

Shallow processing

encoding on basic structural or sound levels

Deep processing

encoding based on meaning leading to best retention

Self-reference effect

better recall for information related to oneself

Memory storage capacity

technically limitless but forgetting helps organization

Explicit memory storage location

mostly in frontal lobes (semantic left episodic right)

Hippocampus role

temporary holding area that consolidates info during sleep

Memory consolidation

transfer of info from hippocampus to long-term memory during especially NREM3

Implicit memory storage

in cerebellum and basal ganglia

Basal ganglia role

receives info from frontal lobe but does not send it back supporting procedural memory

Infantile amnesia

lack of conscious memories before ~4 years due to immature hippocampus and limited language

Amygdala and memory

creates strong emotional memories for survival

Emotional memories

more vivid but often lack contextual details

Retrospective memory

memory for past experiences knowledge and automatic processing

Prospective memory

remembering to remember or perform future tasks

Retrieval cues

stimuli that aid in accessing stored memories

Priming

unconscious activation of associations in long-term memory

Encoding specificity principle

recall is best when cues and context match encoding conditions

Context-dependent memory

better recall when environment matches encoding environment

State-dependent memory

better recall when physical state matches encoding state

Mood-congruent memory

recalling memories consistent with current mood

Serial position effect

tendency to remember first and last items best (primacy and recency)

Reasons we forget

to keep the brain organized by discarding unimportant info

Forgetting during sensory stage

discarding unimportant details

Forgetting during STM

not encoding everything

Forgetting during LTM

alterations or loss during storage

Retrograde amnesia

inability to retrieve past info

Anterograde amnesia

inability to form new memories

Transient amnesia

temporary memory gaps

Encoding failure

failure to form memory links due to inattention

Storage decay

loss of long-term memories over time

Ebbinghaus forgetting curve

initial rapid forgetting then levels off

Retrieval failure

info in LTM but inaccessible without cues

Tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon

inability to retrieve known words especially proper nouns

Proactive interference

old info disrupts new info

Retroactive interference

new info disrupts old info

Positive transfer

old info helps learn new info

Repression

Freud’s idea that anxiety-arousing thoughts are pushed down (not supported)

Reconsolidation

memories are modified each time they are recalled

Misinformation effect

misleading info distorts memory

False memories

created by repeated imagination of nonexistent events

Source amnesia

inability to recall where info came from

Reducing forgetting

strategy set: spacing making info meaningful cues mnemonics minimizing interference sleep and testing yourself