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memory
the ability to store and retrieve information over time
what makes smt memorable?
novelty (newness), repetition, association, emotional resonance
what are the 3 key functions of memory?
encoding, storage, retrieval
encoding
process by which we transform what we perceive, think, or feel into an enduring memory
storage
the retention of encoded information over time
retrieval
the process of getting information out of memory storage, brought to awareness
what are the 3 processing stages?
sensory storage, short term memory, long term memory
sensory storage
FLEETING memory activated by 5 senses. moves to short-term if important enough
iconic memory
visual momentary sensory memory (<0.5sec)
echoic memory
auditory momentary sensory memory (3-4sec)
short-term memory
activated memory that holds a few items for a brief time
long-term memory
relatively permanent and limitless storehouse of the memory system that includes knowledge, skills and experiences
what happens info info is rehearsed through elaborative rehearsal rather than maintenance rehearsal?
more likely to be transferred from short-term memory to long-term
elaborative rehearsal
making associations, using memory aids
maintenance rehearsal
repeating information
working memory can hold x chunks for y seconds
x=7 +-2, y=18-30
chunking
organization of items into familiar manageable units (i.e. phone #s)
short term memory is __ memory
working memory! the CENTRAL EXECUTIVE integrates information from the phonological loop and visuospatial sketch pad to your long term memory
semantic encoding
process of actively relating new information in a meaningful way to knowledge that is already in memory (i.e. drawing personal experiences)
visual imagery encoding
process of storing new information by converting it into mental pictures (i.e. memory palace)
organizational encoding
process of categorizing information according to the relationships among a series of items (i.e. creating a hierarchy)
visual judgment
attending to show the word looks (shallow processing)
rhyme judgement
attending to the word sound (shallow processing)
semantic judgment
thinking about a word’s meaning (deep processing)
self reference effect
people's tendency to better remember information when that information has been linked to the self
hippocampus
brain structure important for learning and memories
who is HM??
he had a removal of his hippocampus. after the operation he still had his short term memory but no long term memory. couldnt remember anything that happened AFTER the surgery
what did HM have?
anterograde amnesia
anterograde amnesia
unable to transfer info from STM to LTM for anything after ur brain surgery
retrograde amnesia
unable to retrieve old memories/information (b4 surgery)
long term memory
holds information for hours/days/months/years; can even recall items from there when havent thought about it in years
consolidation
process by which memories become STABLE in the brain. takes time though but recalling helps
reconsolidation
memories can become vulnerable to disruption when they are recalled, requiring them to be consolidated again
what helps consolidation?
sleep!!! your brain needs to soak the info up and get ready to become a sponge too
spacing effect
the tendency for distributed study or practice to yield better long-term retention
distributed practice
longer practice and rest periods leads to better long-term recall (i.e. studying 3 days before an exam)
massive practice
produces speedy short-term learning and feelings of confidence, but not long term retention (i.e. all nighter before an exam)
rehearsal
process of keeping information in WORKING MEMORY by repeating it
next in line effect
person in a group has DIMINISHED RECALL for words of others who spoke immediately before/after them. this deficit reflects a failure in encoding
serial position effect
immediate recall of a list of items is best from the beginning and end of the list, worst in the middle
primacy effect
info at the beginning of a list better remembered than stuff in middle
recency effect
info at the end of a list is better remembered than stuff in the middle
who is karl lashley?
unsuccessfully tried to locate the area in the brain where engrams/memory traces were stored. concluded massed action
massed action
memories are stored and consolidated throughout all parts of our brain.
Long term potentiation (LTP)
increased firing efficiency of potential neural firing, strengthen of synapses; believed to be a neural basis for learning and memory. more serotonin released when learning so synapses become more efficient at transmitting signals
explicit (declarative) memories
require effortful processing (conscious recall, requires effort and intention); processed in HIPPOCAMPUS and FRONTAL LOBE
implicit (nondeclarative) memories
automatic processing (without conscious recall); processed in cerebellum and basal ganglia
semantic memory
facts and knowledge (improves with age); explicit
episodic memory
personally experienced events (declines with age); explicit
procedural memory
automatic skills (i.e. reading, riding bike); implicit
priming
conditioned associations (i.e. previous experience influences ur interpretation of the event); implicit
space, time, frequency
spatial awareness (driving home); implicit
flashbulb memories
vivid recollection of where you were when an event occurred that was significant to them (emotion triggered); amygdala engages memory
frontal lobes
executive functions, explicit memory
basal ganglia
associations, implicit memory, procedural memorya
amygdala
emotion related memory information
cerebellum
coordinates movement, implicit memory
hippocampus
formation of new memories, explicit memory, episodic memories
metamemory
awareness of our own thoughts towards a task to help control our learning (self monitoring/control)
memory retrieval cues
recognition is easier than recall because it provides retrieval cues
encoding specificity principle
cues and contexts specific to a particular memory will be most effective in helping recall
context-dependent memory
improved recall of info when the context present at encoding and retrieval are the same (i.e. physical settting)
mood-congurnet
mood states affect memory (i.e. remember more pleasant events when u feel happy)
state-dependent memory
memory for a past event is improved when the person is in the same biological or physiological state (i.e. tired, awake) as when the memory was initially formed
the forgetting curve is __
exponential! first few days, memory loss is biggest. then it kinda evens out to set foundational knowledge
Hermann Ebbinghaus
forgetting curve guy with 2300 syllables
why do we forget??
retrieval failure - interference (faulty cues), absentmindedness, blocking (tip of tongue), motivated forgetting (can block out smt that makes u anxious like hw)
proactive inference
old blocks new
retroactive interference
new blocks old
retrospective memory
memory of people/events/words (episodic and semantic memories, for example)
prospective memory
remembering to remember/remembering to perform an intended action (remembering to buy eggs bc u ate them all at breakfast). LIKED TO RETROSPECTIVE MEMORY
source amnesia
involves faulty memory for how/when/where info was learned
reconsolidation in memory construction errors
when we call up a memory, it is replaced by new, slightly modified version
misinformation effect
incorporating false info into one’s memory
retrograde amnesia
unable to recall events that occurred before brain surgery. new is fine tho. usually temporary
infantile amnesia
brain systems required to encode and retrieve specific events are not adequately developed to support long-term memory before age 3
repression
self-censored memories as a defense mechanism
shallow processing
cognitive processing that is superficial
deep processing
focuses on meaningful properties, use effortful processing strategies like mnemonics