Everyday Memory and Memory Errors: Chapter 8 Overview

Autobiographical Memory

Memory for specific life experiences, episodic and semantic.

Sensory Component

Visual experience aids forming and retrieving autobiographical memory.

Medial Temporal Lobe

Brain area involved in episodic memory processing.

Prefrontal Cortex

Brain region associated with self-referential information.

Hippocampus

Critical for recollection and forming new memories.

Reminiscence Bump

Enhanced memory for events in adolescence and early adulthood.

Self-Image Hypothesis

Memory is better for events shaping self-identity.

Cognitive Hypothesis

Better encoding during rapid change and stability periods.

Cultural Life-Script Hypothesis

Personal events easier to recall fitting cultural expectations.

Memory for Emotional Stimuli

Emotional events remembered more vividly and easily.

Weapons Focus

Tendency to focus on weapons during a crime.

Flashbulb Memories

Vivid memories of shocking, significant events.

Narrative Rehearsal Hypothesis

Repeated exposure can distort memory accuracy.

Constructive Nature of Memory

Memory combines actual events with personal knowledge.

Source Monitoring Error

Misidentifying the origin of a memory.

Cryptoamnesia

Unconscious plagiarism due to source misrecognition.

Episodic Memory

Memory for specific events and experiences.

Semantic Memory

Memory for facts and general knowledge.

Memory Consolidation

Process of stabilizing memories after acquisition.

Emotional Consolidation

Emotion enhances memory retention over time.

Brain Activation

Increased neural activity during memory retrieval.

Significant Life Events

Memorable events impacting personal life narratives.

Memory Over the Lifespan

Patterns of memory retention throughout life stages.

Memory Inaccuracy

Memories can change and become less detailed.

Recollection

Active retrieval of specific details from memory.

Memory Errors

Mistakes in recalling or recognizing past events.