Unit 1: Memory 

Memory: Memory is the mental process of encoding, storing, and retrieving information

Recall:  Retrieving information that is not currently in your conscious awareness, but that was learned at a previous time.

Recognition: Identifying items previously learned

Relearning: learning something more quickly when you know it a second or later time increases retention, especially when done over time

Encoding: The process that gets information into our brain

Storage: The process of retaining learned information

Retrieval: The process of getting old information back out

Parallel Processing: The  way how our brain processes multiple things at once conscious or unconscious

Connectionism: The model that views memories as products of connected neural networks. 

Long-term memory: memory that can be accessed for later retrieval

Short Term Memory: memory that has not been encoded by rehearsal 

Sensory memory: The first way that memory is processed

Working memory: The active processing of memory that helps you link it to previous information

Explicit Memory: retention of facts and experiences that can consciously be known. Encoded through effortful processing

Effortful Processing: Encoding that requires attention and conscious effort

Implicit Memory: Retention of learned skills or classically conditioned associations independent of conscious recollections(non-declarative)

Automatic Processing: unconscious encoding of incidental information such as space, time, frequency, and well-learned info. 

Procedural: Skills learned (ie. Muscle memory)

Sensory Encoding: space, time & frequency

Iconic Memory: a momentary sensory memory of visual info, photographic, and lasts 1/10 seconds.

Chunking: grouping items up in manageable chunks to make it easy to encode

Mnemonics: memory aids that usually use  imagery or some sort of organization to help with encoding

Spacing effect: distributed study or practice increases retention better than cramming

Testing effect:  Enhanced memory after retrieving rather than rereading.

Shallow processing: encoding on a basic level like the structure of appearance 

Deep Processing: Encoding semantically based on the meaning of the words; usually has the best retention

Self-Reference Effect: We remember things better when they involve us

Semantic Memory: An explicit memory of facts and general knowledge; one of our two conscious memory systems

Episodic memory: explicit memory of facts and general knowledge one of our two conscious memory systems

Hippocampus: a neural center located in the limbic system helps process explicit memories of facts and events for storage

Memory Consolidation: The neural storage of a long-term memory 

Flash-Bulb Memory: A clear memory of an emotionally significant moment or event 

Long-term potentiation: An increase in a cell's firing potential after brief, rapid stimulation a neural basis for learning memory.

Priming: the activation of certain associations, thus predisposing one’s perception, memory, one response

Encoding Specificity Principle: cues and context-specific to a particular event will be more effective in helping us recall it

State-Dependent memory: when you learn in are state you recall best in the state(ie. Drunk, high, sleepy)

Serial Position effect: our tendency to recall the last(recency) and first(primacy) items in a list 

Mood Congruent: the tendency to recall experiences that match with current mood 

Anterograde Amnesia: inability to form NEW memories

Retrograde Amnesia: Inability to remember past

Proactive Interference: Old activity disrupts new ones

Retroactive Interference: New activity disrupts new ones 

Positive Transfer: New info doesn’t always interfere with interference if the new info helps with prior learning 

Repress: from a psychoanalytic perspective: basic defense mechanism that banishes anxiety-inducing memories, thoughts, or fears

Reconsolidation: Previously stored memories when retrieved are potentially altered before storage

Misinformation effect: Happens when misinformation corrupts a memory

Imagination Inflation: the more you imagine the more confident you get

Source Amnesia: faulty memory for how, when, or where the info was learned. Usually, combos w/ misinformation to create false memories 

Deja Vu: cues from current situation may uncocniously trigger retrieval of an earlier experience