APPSYCH 2.3 memory, 2nd half

method of loci

a mnemonic technique that works by placing an image of each item to be remembered at particular points along an imaginary journey

chunking

organizing items into familiar, manageable units; often occurs automatically

categories

sets of objects (or events or abstract entities) in the world

hierarchies

a system of structure in which elements are ranked or organized in order of importance or level

the spacing effect

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

massed practice

cramming, like information before a test

serial position effect

our tendency to recall best the last items in a list initially (a recency effect) and the first items in a list after a delay (primacy effect)

primacy effect

after a delay, you will remember things from a list better

regency effect

being able to recall the last mentioned thing on a list quickly

sensory memory

the senses momentarily register amazing detail

short-term memory

a few items are both noticed and encoded

working memory

a form of memory that allows a person to temporarily hold a limited amount of information at the ready for immediate mental use

long term memory

the storage of information over extended periods of time

memory consolidation

the neural storage of long-term memories

elaborative rehearsal

a memory strategy where new information is actively connected to existing knowledge in long-term memory by creating meaningful associations

autobiographical memory

“super-memory” interferes with life, with one memory cuing another

flashbulb memory

a clear memory of an emotionally significant moment or event

retrograde amnesia

an inability to remember information from one’s past

anterograde amnesia

an inability to form new memories

alzheimer’s disease

explicit memories for new people/events are lost, they could form new implicit memories

infantile amnesia

the phenomenon where adults are unable to recall memories from their early childhood

retrieval

process of getting information out of memory storage

recall

our ability to produce previously learned information

recognition

our ability to identify previously learned information

relearning

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

retrieval cues

information about surroundings, mood, seating position, etc.; passwords that open memories

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

context-dependent memory

our memories are effected by the cues we have associated with that memory

mood-congruent memory

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