Memory and Information Processing

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts related to memory, encoding, storage, retrieval, and types of memory, providing a comprehensive review of the material.

Memory

An information processing system that involves encoding, storing, and retrieving information.

Encoding

The process of inputting information into the memory system.

Storage

The retention of encoded information over time.

Retrieval

The act of getting information out of memory and back into awareness.

Automatic Processing

The encoding of details (like time and space) that occurs without conscious awareness.

Effortful Processing

The encoding of information that requires attention and effort.

Sensory Memory

The initial stage of memory that briefly holds sensory information.

Short-Term Memory

A temporary storage system that processes incoming sensory information.

Long-Term Memory

A storage system that holds information for extended periods, potentially forever.

Semantic Encoding

The encoding of words and their meanings, which promotes better retention.

Visual Encoding

The encoding of images and visual characteristics.

Acoustic Encoding

The encoding of sounds and the way the information sounds.

Explicit Memory

Memory that requires conscious thought, such as remembering an event.

Episodic Memory

A type of explicit memory that involves personal experiences or events.

Semantic Memory

A type of explicit memory related to knowledge of facts and concepts.

Implicit Memory

Unconscious memories that influence behavior without intentional recall.

Anterograde Amnesia

The inability to form new memories after a brain injury.

Retrograde Amnesia

The inability to recall past memories before a brain injury.

The Misinformation Effect

When a person's recall of episodic memories becomes less accurate due to post-event information.

Retrieval Cues

Hints or prompts that help in the retrieval of memories.

Context-Dependent Memory

The improved recall of information when the context at the time of encoding is replicated.

State-Dependent Memory

Memory retrieval that is influenced by the individual's physical or emotional state at the time of encoding.

Cue Overload Principle

The notion that if a cue is linked to too many memories, it loses its effectiveness.

Memory Trace

The physical record of a memory in the brain.

Engram

The hypothetical physical representation of memory in neural tissue.

Neurotransmitters

Chemicals in the brain that facilitate communication between neurons and are involved in memory processes.

Flashbulb Memory

A highly detailed and vivid memory of an emotional event.

Recoding

The process of converting information into a format that makes it easier to remember.

Elaborative Rehearsal

A technique for improving memory by linking new information to existing knowledge.

Mnemonic Device

Techniques used to enhance memory retention, such as acronyms or visualization.

Interference

When new information hinders the recall of previously learned information.

Transience

The diminishing accessibility of memory over time.

Blocking

The temporary inability to retrieve a memory, often referred to as the tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon.

Misattribution

The confusion regarding the source of a memory.

Suggestibility

The tendency for people to incorporate misleading information from external sources into their memory.