Memory Notes

Flashbulb Memory

A clear memory of an emotionally significant moment or event.

Collective Flashbulb Memory

A shared memory of a significant event that involves a group of people.

Encoding

The processing of information into the memory system; extracting meaning, often akin to data entry.

Storage

The retention of encoded information over time, similar to saving data on a hard drive or cloud.

Retrieval

The process of getting information out of memory, akin to file searching on a computer.

Recall

A measure of memory where the person must retrieve information learned earlier without prompts.

Recognition

A measure of memory where the person identifies previously learned items, often through cues.

Short-Term Memory

Activated memory that holds a few items briefly, such as a phone number just looked up.

Long-Term Memory

The relatively permanent and limitless storehouse of the memory system.

Sensory Memory

The immediate, initial recording of sensory information.

Iconic Memory

Momentary sensory memory of visual stimuli, or photographic memory lasting a few tenths of a second.

Echoic Memory

Momentary sensory memory of auditory stimuli, lasting about 3 to 4 seconds.

Working Memory

A newer understanding of short-term memory that focuses on conscious, active processing of incoming information.

Central Executive

The part of working memory that directs attention and manages tasks.

Ebbinghaus Forgetting Curve

A graph showing the rate of forgetting information over time, initially rapid, then stabilizing.

Proactive Interference

Disruptive effect of prior learning on the recall of new information.

Retroactive Interference

Disruptive effect of new learning on the recall of old information.

Misinformation Effect

Incorporating misleading information into one's memory of an event.

Source Amnesia

Attributing an event to the wrong source; misattribution.

Mnemonic Devices

Memory aids that utilize vivid imagery and organizational techniques to enhance retention.

Chunking

Organizing items into familiar, manageable units to improve memory recall.

Long-term Potentiation (LTP)

An increase in a synapse’s firing potential after brief, rapid stimulation, believed to be a neural basis for learning.

Implicit Memory

Retention independent of conscious recollection; often procedural in nature.

Explicit Memory

Memory of facts and experiences that one can consciously know and declare.

State-dependent Memory

The phenomenon where what is learned in one state is easier to remember when in the same state.

Memory Consolidation

The process by which newly acquired information is stabilized and stored in long-term memory.

Flashcard Learning Technique

A study method using flashcards to enhance memorization through active recall.

Context-Dependent Memory

The phenomenon where recall is improved when in the same environment as the learning.

Spaced Repetition

A study technique that involves increasing intervals of review to combat the forgetting curve.

Cued Recall

A measure of memory where a person is provided with hints or cues to aid retrieval.

Decay Theory

The idea that memory fades due to the passage of time if not actively recalled.

Dual Coding Theory

A theory suggesting that both verbal and visual information enhance memory retention.

Rehearsal

A cognitive process of repeating information to enhance memory retention.

Semantic Memory

A type of explicit memory that involves facts and general knowledge.

Procedural Memory

A type of implicit memory responsible for knowing how to perform tasks and skills.

Encoding Specificity Principle

The idea that memory is most effective when the context of both encoding and retrieval are the same.

Levels of Processing Theory

A theory that suggests deeper levels of attention lead to better encoding and retention of information.

Semantic Encoding

The process of encoding information by assigning meaning to it, often enhancing retention.

Acoustic Encoding

The encoding of sound, particularly the sounds of words, which can influence memory.

Visual Encoding

The process of encoding images and visual sensory information into memory.

Automatic Processing

Unconscious encoding of information, such as time, space, and frequency, without deliberate effort.

Effortful Processing

Encoding that requires conscious effort and attention, often involving rehearsal and mnemonic strategies.

Schema

A cognitive framework that helps organize and interpret information, influencing how new information is encoded.

Self-Reference Effect

The phenomenon where individuals encode information better when it is related to themselves.

Dual-Encoding

The process of encoding information using both verbal and visual methods to enhance memory retention.

Encoding Failure

The inability to recall specific information because it was not encoded well into memory.

Distinctiveness

The principle that unique or unusual information is often better remembered due to its distinct encoding.

Primacy Effect

The tendency to remember the first items in a list better than those in the middle.

Recency Effect

The tendency to remember the most recent items in a list better than those from earlier.

Forgetting Curve

A graphical representation showing the decline of memory retention over time, often highlighting the importance of review.

Interference Theory

The theory that forgetting occurs because other information interferes with the retrieval of what we learned.

Short-Term Forgetting

The forgetting of information that occurs in the short-term memory if not rehearsed or transferred to long-term memory.

Lateral Interference

When similar information disrupts our ability to recall specific details, often seen in language learning.

Adaptive Forgetting

The natural process of forgetting that helps optimize memory by removing less relevant information.

Contextual Interference

When varying the context during practice disrupts performance but enhances retention, particularly in skill learning.

Repression

A defense mechanism in which unpleasant memories are unconsciously blocked from recall.

Trace Decay

The theory that memories fade due to the passage of time, weakening the neural pathways associated with those memories.

Emotional Interference

The phenomenon where strong emotions connected to memories can affect accuracy and retrieval of those memories.

Retention Interval

The time period between learning and recalling information, influencing how well memory is retained.