AP psych unit 5: memory

memory

the persistence of learning over time through the encoding, storage, and retrieval of information

recall

a measure of memory in which the person must retrieve information learned earlier, as on a fill-in-the-blank test

recognition

a measure of memory in which the person identifies items previously learned, as on a multiple-choice test

relearning

a measure of memory that assesses the amount of time saved when learning material again

encoding

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

storage

the process of retaining encoded information over time

retrieval

the process of getting information out of memory storage

parallel processing

processing many aspects of a problem simultaneously; the brain's natural mode of information processing for many functions

sensory memory

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

short-term memory

activated memory that holds a few items briefly, such as digits of a phone number while calling, before the information is stored or forgotten

long-term memory

the relatively permanent and limitless storehouse of the memory system. Includes knowledge, skills, and experiences

working memory

a newer understanding of short-term memory that adds conscious, active processing of incoming auditory and visual information, and of information retrieved from long-term memory

explicit memory

retention of facts and experiences that one can consciously know and "declare"

effortful processing

encoding that requires attention and conscious effort

automatic processing

unconscious encoding of incidental information, such as space, time, and frequency, and of well-learned information, such as word meanings

implicit memory

retention of learned skills or classically conditioned associations independent of conscious recollection

iconic memory

a momentary sensory memory of visual stimuli; a 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

chunking

organizing items into familiar, manageable units; often occurs automatically

mnemonics

memory aids, especially those techniques that use vivid imagery and organizational devices

spacing effect

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

testing effect

enhanced memory after retrieving, rather than simply rereading, information. Also sometimes referred to as retrieval practice effect or test-enhanced learning

shallow processing

encoding on a basic level, based on the structure of appearance of words

deep processing

encoding semantically, based on the meaning of the worlds; tends to yield the best retention

semantic memory

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

episodic memory

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

hippocampus

a neural center located in the limbic system; helps process explicit memories - of facts and event - for storage

memory consolidation

the neural storage of a long-term memory

flashbulb memory

a clear, sustained memory of an emotionally significant moment or event

long-term potentiation

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

priming

the activation, often unconsciously, of particular associations in memory

encoding specificity principle

the idea that cues and contexts specific to a particular memory will be most effective in helping us recall it

mood-congruent memory

the tendency to recall experiences that are consistent with one's current good or bad mood

serial position effect

our tendency to recall best and last items in a list

anterograde amnesia

an inability to form new memories

retrograde amnesia

an inability to retrieve information from one's past

proactive interference

the forward-acting disruptive effect of older learning on the recall of new information

retroactive interference

the backward-acting disruptive effect of newer learning on the recall of old information

repression

in psychoanalytic theory; the basic defense mechanism that banishes from consciousness anxiety-arousing thoughts, feelings, and memories

reconsolidation

a process in which previously stored memories, when retrieved, are potentially altered before being stored again

misinformation effect

occurs when misleading information has distorted one's memory of an event

source amnesia

faulty memory for how, when, or where information was learned or imagined. Source amnesia, along with the misinformation effect, is at the heart of many false memories

deja vu

the eerie sense that "I've experienced this before." Cues from the current situation may unconsciously trigger retrieval of an earlier experience

cognition

all the mental activities associated with thinking, knowing, remembering, and communicating

early selection model

proposes that our selective filter selects information to process based on basic features (such as color, pitch, direction, etc). Perception of the stimulus isn’t required prior to selecting its relevance

late selection model

proposes that information is selected after processing for meaning. Implies that internal decisions on relevance must be made before

central executive

one part from baddeley’s 3 systems of working memory; controls outr attention and coordinates working memory for a specific task

phonological loop

one part of baddeley’s 3 systems of working memory; stores and utilizes speech based information (spoken and written)

visuospatial sketchpad

one part of baddeley’s 3 systems of working memory; responsible for manipulating visual images and spatial information

interleaving

a retrieval practice strategy that involves mixing the study of different topics

encoding failure

aka pseudo-forgetting, information enters short term memory but is never encoded in long term memory

retrieval failure

information enters long term memory, but you can’t access it

storage decay

the fading of memories over time

reality monitoring

deciding if a memory is based on an external source (really happened) or an internal source (imagined it, dreamed it, thought about it, etc)

destination memory

our ability to remember who we told what

constructive memory

developed by Elizabeth Loftus, the idea that memories aren’t stored as complete copies and aren’t retrieved as such

maintenance rehearsal

keeping information in short term memory

elaborative rehearsal

helps encode information for storage in long term memory

conceptual hierarchy

complex information is broken down into broad concepts and further subdivided into catergories and subcatergories

clustering

organizing information into related groups

schema

set of expectations based on knowledge from previous experiences