Untitled Flashcards Set

Sensation

The detection and taking in of information through our sense organs; a physiological/physical process.

Stages of Sensation

Reception, transduction, transmission.

Reception

The stage where sensory receptors in a sense organ detect the presence of a stimulus.

Transduction

The process where sensory receptors convert stimulus energy into electrochemical energy.

Transmission

When electrochemical messages leave the sensory neuron and travel to the brain.

Perception

Interpreting sensory information to give meaning,

Stages of Perception

Selection, organization, interpretation.

Selection

The brain filters stimuli, selecting important features for processing while ignoring irrelevant features.

Organization

Grouping selected features of stimuli to form a whole.

Interpretation

The brain gives new expeirances meanings based on past experiences.

Attention

The degree of concentration or awareness given to specific stimuli.

Selective Attention

Focusing all awareness on a limited aspect of what is experienced.

Divided Attention

Dividing mental effort between tasks and stimuli, demanding similar amounts of attention.

Cocktail Party Effect

The ability to focus on particular sounds, filtering out irrelevant noise based on characteristics like pitch and loudness.

Memory

An internal record of previous experiences involving encoding, storage, and retrieval of information.

Process of Memory

Encoding, storage, retrieval.

Encoding

The process of transforming information into a suitable form for storage in the brain.

Storage

Retention of information in memory over time.

Retrieval

Accessing and retrieving information from stored memory.

Multi-Store Model of Memory (MSM)

A three-stage model where information passes through sensory memory, short-term memory, and long-term memory.

Memory Capacity

The amount of information that can be stored in memory.

Memory Duration

How long information can be stored.

Iconic Encoding

Momentary sensory memory of visual stimuli.

Echoic Encoding

Momentary sensory memory of auditory stimuli.

Maintenance Rehearsal

The repetition of information to retain it for immediate use.

Elaborative Rehearsal

Using strategies that link new material with previously obtained information.

Long-Term Memory Types

Declarative, procedural, episodic, semantic.

Declarative/Explicit Memory

Facts, data, and events requiring conscious effort to recall.

Procedural/Implicit Memory

Automatic retrieval of skills once established, not requiring conscious effort.

Episodic Memory

Memory of personal events.

Semantic Memory

General factual information.

Short-Term Memory

Information held for a short period for conscious use.

Short-Term Memory Capacity

5-9 pieces of information held, better for numbers than letters.

Short-Term Memory Duration

Up to 30 seconds without rehearsal.

Short-Term Memory Encoding

Primarily processed via echoic and iconic encoding, maintained through rehearsal and chunking.

Rehearsal

Technique for retaining information longer and transferring it into long-term memory.

Chunking

Combining information into larger, meaningful groups to increase STM capacity.

Working Memory Model

Memory used for complex tasks requiring storage of information as one progresses.

Visuo-Spatial Sketchpad (VSS)

Temporarily stores visual and spatial information.

Phonological Loop

Processes verbal and auditory information.

Central Executive

Organizes and directs attention to relevant information within working memory.

Episodic Buffer

where working memory interacts with long-term memory.

Frontal Lobe Role in Memory

Important for encoding information and short-term (working) memory.

Occipital Lobe Role in Memory

Involved in remembering pictures.

Parietal Lobe Role in Memory

Associated with spatial memory.

Temporal Lobes Role in Memory

Memory for sounds and names.

Limbic System

Neural system including the hippocampus and amygdala, associated with emotions and drives.

Hippocampus Role in Memory

Retrieves declarative and explicit long-term memories.

Amygdala Role in Memory

Encodes emotional long-term memories and procedural skills.

Basal Ganglia Role in Memory

Associated with long-term procedural memory and movement.

Cerebellum Role in Memory

Involved in memory for motor skills and procedural tasks.

Forgetting

Failure to retrieve previously stored information.

Forgetting Factors

Failures of encoding, retrieval failure, and retrieval cues.

Interference

Forgetting that occurs due to competing information during storage.

Proactive Interference

Prior learning disrupts recall of new information.

Retroactive Interference

New learning disrupts recall of old information.

Motivated Forgetting

Forgetting due to the painful or anxiety-laden nature of the memory.

Repression

Unconsciously pushing unwanted thoughts or memories into the subconscious.

Suppression

Consciously choosing to forget memories.

Decay Theory

Forgetting occurs as memory traces fade over time.