Cognition and Memory Terms and Concepts to Know Test Friday

Recall

retrieving a memory without any choices or options

Recognition

retrieving a memory from a list of options

Sensory Memory

very brief bits of information that comes in from the environment. If paid attention to, it will be passed onto Short Term Memory. If not, it is forgotten

Echoic Memory

sound bits of information we hear every second

Iconic Memory

visual bits of information we see every second

Short Term Memory

about 7 bits of information that is held onto for about 30 seconds. What is paid attention to, will be passed onto Long Term Memory

Long Term Memory

believed to be infinite and limitless

Long Term Potentiation

The physical changes to neurons when memories are created and strengthened

Deep Processing

giving meaning to information to create stronger memories. Elaborative rehearsal, semantic encoding, making visual images

Shallow Processing

focusing on the structure or the sounds of words, but not the meaning (Phonemic is the sounds; structural is the spelling)

Encoding

taking in the information to create a memory

Storage

holding onto the memories that are created

Retrieval

accessing the memories from Long Term Memory at a later time

Serial position effect

typically remembering the beginning of the list (Primacy) and the end of a list (Recency) but forgetting the middle

Method of Loci

using specific location cues to encode and retrieve memories

Spacing Effect

studying information repeatedly over several sessions (distributed practice) instead of just cramming the information in one session (massed practice)

Episodic Memory

events of our lives (graduation, birthday party, etc.)

Semantic Memory

general knowledge; trivia

Procedural Memory

memory of how to do tasks and skills (riding a bike, typing, etc.)

Prospective Memory

memory to do something in the future (paying a bill next week)

Working Memory

holding onto information that will be useful in the moment

Visuospatial Workspace

being able to visualize information to help us process things in the moment

Phonological Loop

helps us to process and use verbal and auditory information to use in the moment (Holding onto what question was asked so you can share the answer)

State Dependent Memory

your current internal state of mind may trigger other times you had the same state of mind (hungry, tired, sad, mad, drunk)

Context Dependent Memory

an external trigger that can help retrieve a memory (chewing gum or sitting in a specific seat while studying and then chewing that same flavor gum or seating in the same seat where you studied can help you remember better)

Testing Effect

studying in a practice quiz way works better than studying notes

Misinformation Effect

our memories can be changed or influenced by outside sources

Retroactive interference

an old memory is blocked (forgetting 9th grade teacher)

Proactive interference

a new memory is blocked (can’t remember new password)

Retrograde amnesia

brain injury or illness causes loss of older memories

Anterograde amnesia

brain injury or illness causes new memories to not be formed

Source Amnesia

incorrectly identifying or not remembering where you heard info

Infantile amnesia

not being able to remember things before age 3 or 4 due to the hippocampus not being developed yet

Framing

how a questions or is presented can influence a memory (80% fat free yogurt or 20% fat yogurt)

Prototype

what you consider the best example of a concept

Accommodation

creating a new concept to fit newly learned information

Assimilation

adding new information to an existing concept (young children)

Executive Function

Humans’ highest level of cognitive abilities

Availability Heuristic

decision making based on what you are familiar with or heard about recently

Representativeness Heuristic

Your prototype can affect your opinions of people’s things

Mental Set

only trying to solve a problem using a method that worked in the past

Sunk Cost Fallacy

when a person is reluctant to changed their thinking or behavior because they have already invested too much time or money into what they are doing