Pyschology magic 7 - flashbulb

Short-Term Memory Capacity

The capacity of short-term memory can hold about 7 items (±2) at once.

Magic number seven

You can remember a 7-digit phone number without writing it down.

Working memory capacity

Working memory varies by age and focus and determines how much information you can actively juggle.

Effortful Processing Strategies

Strategies that require effort to encode information into memory.

Chunking

Organizing information into meaningful groups to make it easier to remember.

Mnemonic devices

Memory tricks that use associations, patterns, or images.

Imagery

Forming mental images to strengthen memory.

Hierarchies

Organizing information into categories and subcategories.

Distributed Practice

Learning is better when study sessions are spread out over time.

Spacing effect

Studying psych for 10 minutes daily instead of cramming the night before.

Testing effect

Retrieving information strengthens memory more than rereading does.

Levels of Processing

Different ways of encoding information that affect memory retention.

Shallow processing

Encoding based on appearance or sound rather than meaning.

Deep processing

Encoding based on meaning, which improves long-term retention.

Making Material Personally Meaningful

Linking information to your own experiences so it becomes easier to store and recall.

Explicit Memory System

Memory system involving the frontal lobes and hippocampus.

Semantic memory

Memory of general facts and knowledge.

Episodic memory

Memory of personal events experienced in order (like episodes).

Hippocampus

Brain structure that forms new explicit memories and helps learning.

Memory consolidation

Process where short-term memories become long-term memories, often during sleep.

Implicit Memory System

Memory system involving the cerebellum and basal ganglia.

Cerebellum

Helps store conditioned (automatic) responses.

Basal ganglia

Form procedural memories such as habits or motor skills.

Amygdala

Triggers emotional memory formation and strengthens emotionally charged memories.

Emotions

Strong emotions increase memory strength because they activate stress hormones.

Flashbulb memories

Clear, vivid memories of emotionally significant events.