AP Psych 2.3-2.4 Vocab

Memory

cognitive or physical capacity to encode, retain, store, and retrieve info or past experiences over time

explicit memory

conscious, intentional recollection of factual information, past experiences, and general concepts

episodic memory

explicit memory of personally experienced events; one of our two conscious memory systems

semantic memory

explicit memory of facts and general knowledge; one of two of our conscious memory systems

implicit memory

retention of learned skills of classically conditioned associations independent of conscious recollection (aka nondeclarative memory)

procedural memory

type of implicit long-term memory that stores info on how to perform motor, visuospatial, and cognitive skills

prospective memory

The cognitive ability to remember to execute a planned action or intention at a future point in time

long-term potentiation (LTP)

an increase in a nerve cell's firing potential after brief, rapid stimulation; a neutral basis for learning and memory

working memory model

a cognitive psychology framework that explains how short-term memory works

working memory

newer understanding of short-term memory: conscious, active processing of both incoming sensory info and information retrieved from long-term memory

central executive

a memory component that coordinates the activities of the phonological loop and the visuospatial sketchpad

phonological loop

a memory component that briefly holds auditory information

visuospatial sketchpad

a memory component that briefly holds info about objects apperance and location in space

Multi-store model

Three-stage model that describes human memory as a linear, structural system where info flows through three distinct, permanent storage stores

sensory memory

the immediate, very brief recording of sensory information in the memory system

iconic memory

a momentary sensory memory of visual stimuli; a photographic or picture image memory lasting no more than a few tenths of a second

echoic memory

a momentary sensory memory of auditory stimuli; if attention is elsewhere, sounds and words can still be recalled within 3 or 4 seconds

short-term memory

briefly activated memory of a few items (such as digits of a phone number while calling) that is later stored or forgotten

long-term memory

The relatively permanent and limitless archive of memory systems. Includes knowledge, skills, and experiences

automatic processing

unconscious encoding of incidental information, such as space, time, and frequency, and of familiar or well-learned info, such as sounds, smells, and word meanings

effortful processing

encoding that requires attendtion and conscious effort

Encoding

the process of getting information into the memory system, for example, by extracting meaning

storage

the process of retaining encoded info over time

Retrieval

process of getting information out of memory storage

levels of processing model

cognitive memory framework that suggests that how well you remember something depends on how deeply you process the info

Structural Processing

the shallowest level of memory encoding in the levels of processing model (purely based on surface level or visual or physical characteristics)

Phonemic Processing

intermediate level of memory encoding in the levels of processing theory (encodes info based on sound)

Semantic Processing

deepest level of memory encoding in the levels of processing theory (relates it to personal experience, prior concepts, or meaning)

mnemonic devices

memory aids, especially those techs using vivid imagery and organizational devices

method of loci

mindmap/mindpalce - mnemonic strat using spatial memory and visual imagination to store and recall sequential info

Chunking

organizing items into familiar, manageable units; often occurs automatically

Categorization

cognitive process of grouping distinct objects, events, ideas, or people into mental categories based on shared similarities or characteristics

hierarchy

method of memorization that uses hierarchies to help retrieve information efficiently

spacing effect

The tendency for distributed study or practice to yield better long-term retention than is achieved through massed study or practice

memory consolidation

the neural storage of a long-term memory

massed practice

Cramming - producing speedy short-term learning and an inflated feeling of confidence

distributed practice

produces better long-term recall

serial position effect

our tendency to recall the best that last items in a list initially and the first terms in a list after a delay

primacy effect

tendency to remember words at the beginning of a list especially well

recency effect

tendency to remember words at the end of a list especially well