ap psych 2.3-2.6 vocab

memory

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

recall

retrieving info not currently in conscious mind - i.e. a fill in the blank question

recognition

identifying items prev. learned - i.e. multiple choice

relearning

learning smth more quickly the 2nd time around

overlearning

rehearsal of material already known; increases retention

what’s this graph called

ebbinghaus’ retention curve

encoding

getting information into our brain

store

retaining the info

retrieve

later getting the info back out of our brain

parallel processing

procesing mutliple aspects of a stimulus simultaneously

sensory memory

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

short term memory

briefly activated memory of a few items (i.e. a friend’s phone number) before either being stored or forgotten

long term memory

relatively permanent and limitless archive of the memory system i.e. knowledge, skills, experiences

what model is this

modern version of the 3-stage memory model

working memory

new understanding of short-term memory: connecting new info to things from long-term mem. to help better comprehend the info being encoded

central executive

mem. component that coordinates the activities of the phonological loop & visuospatial sketchpad

phonological loop

holds auditory info in short-term memory

visuospatial sketchpad

holds info in short term memory about an object’s appearance & location in space

neurogenesis

formation of new neurons

long-term potentiation

an increase in a nerve cell’s firing potential after brief, rapid stimulation; i.e. muscle memory or trauma

explicit memories

facts, events, experiences that we consciously know

implicit memories

learned skills/associations

effortful processing

encoding that requires attention + conscious effort; produces explicit memories

automatic processing

subconscious encoding that produces our implicit memories

ionic memory

fleeting sensory mem. of visual stimuli (few tenths of a sec)

echoic memory

fleeting sensory mem. of audio stimuli (3-4 sec)

what does this represent

rapid decay of short term memory w/o rehearsal

chunking

organizing a bunch of info into familiar, more manageable chunks

mnemonics

memory aids that use vivid imagery/organizational devices (i.e. acronyms)

heirarchies

good memorization strat by organizing knowledge into broad terms and more specific ones under the broad categories (i.e. grouping random words into categories)

spacing effect

the effect that shows how distributed study yields better long-term retention vs cramming

testing effecvt

hand-in-hand w/ spacing effect; short quizzes after memorizing some stuff greatly improves retention

shallow processing

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

deep processing

encodes semantically, based on the meaning of the words; tend to yield the best retention

self-reference effect

attributing information to personal details already stored in long-term memory

semantic explicit memory

memorizing facts & knowledge

episodic explicit memory

remembering experiences

prefrontal cortex

used to recall a past experience, also used for working mem. processing

hippocampus

likened to a “save” button for explicit memories (birds w/o one cached food in hundreds of places but couldn’t remember where they were after a bit)

memory consolidation

the transfer of memories from the hippocampus to the prefrontal cortex

cerebellum

key for storing implicit memoriews

basal ganglia

responsible for motor movement muscle memory

flashbulb memories

vivid ones b/c of the heightened emotional state

retrieval cues

associating encoded info w/ random stuff from your surroundings (i.e. when trying to remember the name of someone you also associate their face what they were wearing, etc.)

retrospective memory

past actions

prospective memory

remembering intended future actions

priming

subconscious association between smth learned and other stuff (even if you don’t remember seeing the rabbit, if you heard the word “hair” you’d spell it as “hare” if you saw it a few moments before)

encoding specificity principle

context helps us remember stuff; childhood home triggers memories

mood congruent memory

feeling good triggers good memories, feeling sad triggers sad memories, etc.

recency effect

ppl remember the last stuff on a list better than the middle

primacy effect

ppl remember the first stuff on a list better than the middle

interleaving

mixing study subjects to boost retention and also allowing for extra retrieval practice