AP PSYCH

Encoding

Process of transforming sensory information into a format that can be stored in memory.

Storage

Process of retaining encoded information in the brain over time.

Retrieval

Process of accessing information stored in long-term memory and bringing it back into conscious awareness.

Automatic Processing

Unconscious and effortless encoding of incidental information, such as time, space, and frequency.
(recognizing a familiar face, perceiving the duration of an event)

Effortful Processing

Encoding of information that requires deliberate, conscious attention and mental effort.

Iconic Memory

A type of sensory memory that holds a brief high capacity, photographic representation of visual stimuli for a fraction of a second.

Echoic Memory

Brief, momentary sensory memory of an auditory stimulus, holding sound information for 2 to 3 seconds.

Working Memory

Limited capacity system for temporarily holding and manipulating information for complex tasks like reasoning, comprehension, and problem solving.

Central Executive

Component of the working memory model that acts as a control center, directing attention, coordinating other memory systems.

Visuospatial Sketchpad

Component of the working memory that temporarily stores and manipulates visual and spatial information, such as images, shapes, and locations.

Phonological Loop

Component of working memory that temporarily stores and processes verbal and auditory information, like words, or a phone number.

Shallow Processing

Superficial encoding of information based on its structure, sound, or appearance, rather than its meaning.

Phonemic Processing

Cognitive ability to identify, manipulate, and work with the individual sounds of spoken language.

Semantic Processing

Deep level cognitive encoding of information by connecting it with existing knowledge and meaning, with enhances memory retention.

Deep Processing

Encoding of information by making it meaningful, which leads to better recall compared to shallow processing.

Long-term Potentiation

The long lasting strengthening of a synaptic connection between neurons that results from simultaneous activation.

Explicit Memory

Conscious recollection of facts and experiences, also known as declarative memory

Episodic Memory

Type of long term, declarative memory that involves recalling specific personal events, experiences, and situations.

Implicit Memory

The unconscious retrieval of previously learned information that influences behavior and performance without conscious thought.

Procedural Memory

Type of implicit long term memory that stores knowledge of how to perform actions and skills without conscious thought.

(everything we do without realizing, ex: brush your teeth)

Prospective Memory

Ability to do something later.

Mnemonic Device

Memory aid that uses strategies like acronyms, visualization, and rhymes to help recall information by creating associations with simpler cues.

Method of Loci

Mnemonic device that improves memory by associating information with specific, memorable locating a long a familiar mental journey (PEMDAS)

Chunking

Grouping individual pieces of information into larger, more manageable units to improve memory retention and recall.

Spacing Effect

Psychological phenomenon where learning is better retained when study sessions are distributed over time rather than crammed into a single session.

Memory Consolidation

Process by which short-term memories are stabilized and transformed into long-term, lasting memories through strengthening neural connections.

Massed Practice

Cramming or studying intensely in one long session without significant breaks.

Distributed Practice

Learning strategy where study is broken into shorter, spread-out sessions over a longer period, leading to better long-term retention than cramming.

Serial Position Effect

Tendency to recall the first and last items in a list better than the middle items.

Maintenance Rehearsal

Memory strategy that involves repeatedly saying or thinking about information to keep it active in short-term memory.

Elaborative Rehearsal

Memory technique where new information is actively connected to existing knowledge to create meaning and improve long-term retention.

Anterograde Amnesia

Inability to form new memories after a specific point in time, often due to a traumatic event.

Retrograde Amnesia

Loss of memory for events that occurred before a specific point in time, often a brain injury.

Retrieval

Process of accessing and bringing stored information from long-term memory into conscious awareness.

Recall

Memory retrieval process where you retrieve information without any clues or prompts, essentially “fill in the blanks”.

Recognition

Measure of memory where you identify an item as being familiar after it has been previously learned often using clues.

Context Effects

You will remember things easily if you’re in the same place where you stored those memories (taking the AP test in Mrs.Gilbert’’s room)

State-dependent Memory

If you’re drunk you will remember times before when you were also drunk (physical state is the same during both encoding and retrieval)

Mood-congruent Memory

Tendency to recall memories that match your current mood. (sad= sad memories)

Metacognition

Awareness and understanding of one’s own thought processes. (tip of the tongue phenomenon)

Forgetting Curve

Shows memory retention decreases rapidly over time if there is no attempt to retain it, with the steepest decline happening shortly after learning.

Proactive Interference

Old information makes it harder to recall new information.

Retroactive Interference

New information makes it harder to recall old information.

Inadequate Retrieval

Inability to access information that is already stored in long-term memory, often due to a lack of appropriate retrieval clues

Tip -of-the-tongue phenomenon

Temporary inability to retrieve a word or name that you know accompanied by the strong feeling that it is out of teach.

Repression

Defense mechanism where a person unconsciously pushes distressing thoughts, feelings, or memories out of conscious awareness to avoid pain or anxiety.

Misinformation Effect

Phenomenon where memory of an event is distorted by misleading information received after the event is occurred.

Source Amnesia

Inability to remember the origin of a piece of information while still remembering the information itself.

Constructive Memory

Memory is not a perfect recording but an active process of rebuilding past experiences, which can be influenced by new information, beliefs, and emotions.

Memory Consolidation

Process by which short-term memories are stabilized and transformed into long-term memories through strengthening neural connections.

Imagination Inflation

A memory distortion where imagining an event increases the likelihood that a person will later believe the event actually occurred.