PSYCH: CH6

Memory

active system that receives information from the senses, puts that info into usable form, and organizes it as it stores it away, and then retrieves the info from storage

Encoding

converting info into usable from

Storage

holding onto info for some period of time

Retrieval

getting info that is in storage into a form that can be used

Information-processing model

focuses on the way info is handled, processed through 3 diff systems of memory

Parallel distributed processing model

model where memory processes are proposed to take place at the same time over a large network of neural connections

Levels of processing model

model that assumes info that is more deeply processed, meaning its meaning rather than just the sound or physical characteristics of the word. It allows words to be remembered more efficiently and for a longer period

Sensory memory

first system of memory, info entering the nervous system through the sensory systems eyes or ears and held for a short amount of time

Iconic memory

visual sensory memory, lasting ½ of a second

Eidetic imagery

ability to access a visual memory for 30+ seconds

Echoic memory

auditory sensory memory lasting 2-4 seconds

Short-term memory (STM)

if the sensory message is important, the information is held for brief periods of time while being used, can hold up to 30 sec

Selective attention

ability to focus on only one stimulus from among all sensory input

Working memory

an active system that processes the info given within STM, place where you hold and use info for a short time while you’re doing something

Central executive

attention manager

Visuospatial sketchpad

helps you see and imagine things in your head (seeing)

Phonological loop

helps you remember and repeat sounds/voices (hearing)

Episodic buffer

connector combining new info with old memories (STM to LTM)

The magical # 7, plus or minus 2

capacity of STM was around 7 +/- 2 (ranging from 9-5)

Chunking

recoding/reorganizing the info into chunks

Maintenance rehearsal

saying info you want to remember over and over in one’s head to maintain it in STM

Long-term memory (LTM)

system of memory where all the info is placed to be kept permanently

Rote learning

learning by maintenance rehearsal

Elaborative rehearsal

a way of increasing # of retrieval cues (stimuli that aid in remembering) for info by engaging in deep and elaborate processing of that info and connecting new info to something that’s known

Nondeclarative (implicit) memory

type of memory for skills, procedures, habits, and conditioned responses. For things we know how to do

Anterograde amnesia

loss of memory from point of injury or trauma forward. Can’t learn new info and form new LTM (declarative)

Declarative (explicit) memory

memory that has information that’s conscious and known. Its about the things that people can know, like facts

Semantic memory

general knowledge that anyone can know (meaning of words, concepts)

Episodic memory

personal info (events, daily activities, certain bdays)

Autobiographical memory

memory for events and facts related to one’s personal life story, personal history (knowing when and where you were born)

Semantic network model

assumes info is stored in the brain in a connected fashion, concepts that are related are stored physically closer to e/o

Encoding specificity

connection between surroundings and remembered info. Memory of info is improved if the surroundings or physiological state are the same as when it was retrieved

Context-dependent learning

refers to the physical surroundings a person is in when they’re learning specific info

State-dependent learning

memories made during a physiological or psychological state will be easier to remember while in a similar state

Recall

memories are retrieved with few to no external cues (fill-in-the-blank questions)

Tip of the tongue (TOT) phenomenon

answer is close to the surface of consciousness but can’t be retrieved

Recognition

involves looking at or hearing info and matching it to what is already in memory (word puzzles, multiple choice)

Serial position effect

info at the beginning and end of a list tends to be remembered more easily and accurately

Primacy effect

words at the beginning are remembered better than those in the middle

Recency effect

words at the end are remembered better

Automatic encoding

some LTM enters the permanent storage with little or no effort at all

Flashbulb memories

memories of high emotional events (detailed & vivid) as if the person’s mind took a flash photo of the moment

Constructive processing

retrieval of memories where those memories are altered, revised, or influenced by new info

Hindsight bias

the tendency to falsely believe that they would’ve accurately predicted an outcome without having been told about it in advance

Misinformation effect

tendency of misleading info presented after an event to change the memories of the event itself

False memory syndrome

creation of inaccurate or false memories through the suggestion/social pressure of others, or while they’re under hypnosis

Adaptive forgetting

idea that being able to suppress info that we no longer need makes it easier to remember what we do need

The curve of forgetting

shows a pattern where forgetting is very fast within 1st hour after learning a list and then tapers off gradually

Distributed practice

spacing the study of material to be remembered by including breaks between study periods

Encoding failure

failure to process info into memory

Memory trace

physical change in the brain (neuron, activity of neuron) which occurs when a memory is formed

Decay

loss of memory due to the time when the memory trace isn’t used

Disuse

another name for decay, assumes that memories that aren’t used will eventually decay and disappear

Proactive interference

tendency for older or previous material to interfere with the learning (and subsequent retrieval) of new material -> when u get a new # but find urself remembering ur old #

Retroactive interference

when newer info interferes with the retrieval of older info -> trouble remembering ur old pass to get into ur old ipad

Consolidation

changes that happen in the structure and functioning of neurons when a memory is formed

Retrograde amnesia

loss of memory from point of injury and backwards, can’t remember anything before the incident

Anterograde amnesia

loss of memories from point of injury and forward, making it hard to remember new things

Infantile amnesia

can’t remember/retrieve memories from before 3 years old

Organic amnesia

caused by problems in brain function associated with brain trauma, disease, or aging

Schema

mental template/blueprint/outline for how things are or go

Scene schema

mental template/blueprint/outline for objects in the environment

Event schema

mental template/blueprint/outline for occurances in an event