Pyschology Unit 3/4 2026

An information processing system that actively receives, organises, stores and recovers information

Memory

converting sensory information into a useable form that can be processed by the brain

Encoding

retaining information over time

Storage

accessing information that has previously been stored

Retrieval

the function of a memory store

Role

the amount of information held within a memory store

Capacity

the length of time information is held within a memory store

Duration

memory store that receives and stores an unlimited amount of incoming sensory information for a brief time

Sensory memory

What memory store has limited capacity of short duration, unless the information is renewed?

Short-term memory (STM)

adding new single items to short-term memory by pushing out old items

Displacement

If information fades away in STM when not maintained by rehearsal, what is it called?

Decay

the conscious manipulation of information to keep it in short term memory for longer or to transfer it to long-term memory

Rehearsal

Name the memory store that is relatively permanent and holds huge amounts of information for a long time, possibly lifelong?

Long-term memory (LTM)

relating to meaning

Semantic

Name the type of memory where information that can be consciously retrieved and stated, such as ‘known facts’

Explicit memory

Name the subcategory of explicit long-term memory of specific facts and events, most of which can be stated or ‘declared’

Declarative memory

If you can declare memory of facts or knowledge about the world, then you are accessing…

Semantic memory

the declarative memory of personally experienced events; much like if your brain had a TV show playing

Episodic memory

memory not requiring conscious retrieval, such as ‘how to’ skills; key word implied, or suggested

Implicit memory

Name the subcategory of implicit memory of knowledge of skills, habits or actions

Procedural memory

a learned emotional reaction occurs in response to a stimulus or an event that you have formed an association with

Conditioned emotional response

a thin, outer layer of the brain; involved in complex mental abilities, sensory processing, voluntary movements and storage of explicit memories

Cerebral cortex

a structure in the temporal midbrain; involved in formation of long-term explicit memories and their transfer to the cerebral cortex for storage

Hippocampus

the process by which a temporary memory is transformed into a more stable, long-lasting form

Consolidation

a structure located deep in the temporal midbrain; involved in emotional reactions and formation of emotional memories particularly relating to fear

Amygdala

the top layer of the cerebral cortex that is involved in high order mental processes such as language, attention and memory

Neocortex

a group of structures deep within the cerebral hemispheres; involved in motor movement, procedural memory and learning

Basal ganglia

a cauliflower shaped structure at the base of the brain; coordinates timing and fluency of movements; encodes and temporarily stores implicit memories of simple conditioned reflexes

Cerebellum

a memory system consisting of episodes recollected from an individual's life, based on a combination of episodic and semantic memory; cue word Anne Frank

Autobiographical memory

the combining of stored information with other available information to form what is believed to be a more coherent, complete or accurate memory

Reconstruction

projecting yourself forwards in time to pre-experience an event that might happen in your personal future

Episodic future thinking (EF Time travelling)

the capacity to mentally reconstruct past personal events and imagine possible future scenarios

Mental time travel

a permanent or temporary, complete or partial loss of memory

Amnesia

a neurodegenerative disease characterised by the progressive deterioration of brain neurons, causing memory loss, decline in cognitive and social skills and personality changes

Alzheimer’s disease

a collection of symptoms that are caused by disorders affecting the brain

Dementia

an examination of the brain that shows brain activity and tissues that cannot be detected otherwise

Brain scan

a damaged or abnormal area of the brain that may appear like a scar or wound

Lesion

an abnormal build-up of beta-amyloid proteins between the synapses of neurons that interfere with communication

Amyloid plaque

an abnormal build-up of protein inside a neuron that is associated with cell death

Neurofibrillary tangle

the loss of neurons within the brain

Brain atrophy

the inability to form new explicit long-term memories after an amnesia-causing event

Anterograde amnesia

the inability to retrieve previously stored memories after an amnesia causing event

Retrograde amnesia

the inability to visualise imagery

Aphantasia

the primary cortical region of the brain that receives, integrates and processes visual information relayed from the retinas

Visual cortex

present from birth

Congenital

present after brain injury or significant psychological event

Acquired

the awareness of your own internal mental processes, including your thoughts, feelings, sensations and perceptions, and your awareness of the external world around you

consciousness

a concept that cannot be objectively observed or measured directly through the collection of data, but is widely understood to exist

psychological construct

a state associated with being aware of our internal and external environments

normal waking consciousness

any state that differs in awareness when compared to normal waking consciousness

altered state of consciousness

an altered state of consciousness that occurs without any external influence

naturally occurring altered state of consciousness

an altered state of consciousness that has been brought about on purpose

induced altered state of consciousness

a naturally occurring and reversible altered state of consciousness, characterised by a reduction in awareness and responsiveness to external surroundings

sleep

a type of sleep characterised by a progressive decline in physiological activity

non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep

a type of sleep characterised by quick darting of the eyes behind closed eyelids and an increase in physiological activity

rapid eye movement (REM) sleep

DOC a line graph that represents the stages of sleep plotted against time

hypnogram

a multi-parameter sleep study used as a diagnostic tool in sleep medicine

polysomnography

a technique that detects, amplifies and records the electrical activity in the brain

electroencephalography (EEG)

a technique that detects, amplifies and records the electrical activity of the skeletal muscles

electromyography (EMG)

a technique that detects, amplifies and records the electrical activity of the muscles controlling the eyes

electrooculography (EOG)

the awareness of your own internal mental processes, including your thoughts, feelings, sensations and perceptions, and your awareness of the external world around you

consciousness

a subjective self-report tool used by a person to track their own sleep and wake patterns

sleep diary

a sleep study tool used to collect qualitative visual and audio information about a person’s sleep

video monitoring

biological processes that coordinate the timing of body activities over a 24-hour period

circadian rhythm

biological processes that coordinate the timing of body activities over a period of less than 24 hours

ultradian rhythm

a master body clock in the hypothalamus that regulates body activities to a daily schedule of sleep and wakefulness

suprachiasmatic nucleus

an environmental cue such as light, temperature and eating patterns that can synchronise and regulate the body’s circadian rhythm

zeitgeber

a hormone that induces drowsiness and decreases cell activity

melatonin

the experience of achieving inadequate sleep in terms of quantity or quality

partial sleep deprivation

a person’s experience of their emotions

affective functioning

a person’s observable actions

behavioural functioning

a person’s mental processing

cognitive functioning

a category of sleep disorders in which sleep is disrupted because the circadian rhythm and a person’s sleep-wake schedule are misaligned

circadian rhythm sleep disorders

a therapy to treat a sleep disorder in which the person is exposed to a bright light to reset the sleep-wake cycle

bright light therapy

a circadian rhythm sleep disorder characterised by a delay in the timing of sleep onset and awakening compared with the timing that is desired

Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome (DSPS)

a circadian rhythm sleep disorder characterised by an advance in the timing of sleep onset and awakening compared to the timing that is desired

Advanced Sleep Phase Disorder (ASPD)

the sleep-related behaviours and environmental conditions that are beneficial for sleep

sleep hygiene

an environmental cue such as light, temperature and eating patterns that can synchronise and regulate the body’s circadian rhythm

zeitgeber

all direct and indirect sunlight during the daytime

daylight

a part of the visible light spectrum that is emitted from smartphone screens, computer monitors, televisions, LED and fluorescent light bulbs, as well as sunlight

blue light

the percentage of alcohol in the bloodstream

blood alcohol concentration (BAC)

work that regularly takes place outside of normal business hours, particularly at night and the very early morning; can cause a circadian rhythm disorder

shift work

the period of time a person is alive

life span

a beneficial emotional state in which a person realises their abilities, copes with the normal stresses of life, works productively and contributes to their community

mental health and wellbeing

the ability to recover from adversity

resilience

the state of not having difficulty with everyday activities and displaying resilience

mentally healthy

the ability to carry out a wide range of daily activities, attend to self-care, maintain interpersonal relationships and demonstrate resilience in the face of everyday challenges

high level of functioning

combination of a person’s physical, social, emotional, mental and spiritual health that is linked to happiness and life satisfaction

wellbeing

relates to the connections you make with other people and your ability to get along with people in a community

social wellbeing

relates to the ability to feel a range of emotions and express them in a positive way

emotional wellbeing

an everyday or conceivable event such as a relationship breakdown, work challenge or failing a test

life stressor

a relatively short-term disruption that impacts on a person’s everyday functioning

mental health problem

a condition that affects mood, thinking and behaviour and is typically long lasting

mental disorder

a factor that influences mental wellbeing and originates from outside a person, such as the physical and social environment

external factors

a factor that influences mental wellbeing and originates from within a person, such as genetics and hormones

internal factors

a factor that relates to the physiological functioning of the body

biological factor

a factor that relates to the functioning of the brain and the mind including cognitive and affective processes such as thought patterns and memory

psychological factors

a factor that relates to the social components of a person’s environment

social factors

a state of mental or emotional and physiological tension, resulting from factors that are perceived to challenge or threaten our ability to cope

stress

an emotion akin to worrying and uneasiness that something is wrong or something bad is going to happen usually accompanied by physiological signs

anxiety