PSY 100 Final Chp 7-9

  1. Encoding: Encoding refers to the process of converting sensory information into a form that can be stored in memory. During encoding, sensory input is transformed into neural codes that the brain can process and store. Different types of encoding include visual, auditory, semantic, and tactile encoding, depending on the nature of the information being processed.

  2. Storage: Storage involves maintaining encoded information over time. Once information is encoded, it is stored in memory for later retrieval. The storage process involves the retention of information in the brain over short-term or long-term periods. Information can be stored in different memory systems, including sensory memory, short-term memory, and long-term memory, each with different capacities and durations of retention.

  3. Retrieval: Retrieval refers to the process of accessing and bringing stored information back into conscious awareness. It involves recalling or recognizing previously encoded and stored information from memory when needed. Retrieval can be influenced by various factors, including the cues or context present during encoding and the strength of the memory trace formed during encoding and storage. Successful retrieval depends on the ability to access and activate the appropriate memory traces stored in the brain.


The environment plays a significant role in brain development, influencing both the structure and function of the brain. Key influences of the environment on brain development include:

  1. Stimulation: Environmental stimuli and experiences can promote neuronal growth, synapse formation, and the establishment of neural circuits in the developing brain. Enriched environments with varied sensory input, social interaction, and cognitive challenges can enhance brain development and plasticity.

  2. Nutrition: Adequate nutrition, including essential nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids, is crucial for optimal brain development. Nutritional deficiencies during critical periods of brain development can lead to impairments in cognitive function and neural development.

  3. Stress: Environmental stressors, such as poverty, trauma, and adverse childhood experiences, can have detrimental effects on brain development. Chronic stress exposure during early development can disrupt normal brain maturation, impair cognitive function, and increase the risk of mental health disorders later in life.

  4. Parenting and Caregiving: The quality of caregiving and the parent-child relationship significantly influence brain development in early childhood. Responsive and nurturing caregiving promotes secure attachment and healthy socioemotional development, while neglectful or abusive caregiving can have adverse effects on brain structure and function.

  5. Toxic Exposures: Exposure to environmental toxins, pollutants, and harmful substances can negatively impact brain development, particularly during critical periods of vulnerability. Prenatal exposure to substances such as alcohol, tobacco, drugs, and environmental pollutants can disrupt normal brain development and increase the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders.

Overall, the environment exerts a profound influence on brain development through its effects on neuronal growth, synaptic connectivity, neurochemical signaling, and neural plasticity. Early experiences and environmental exposures can have lasting effects on brain structure and function, shaping cognitive, emotional, and behavioral outcomes across the lifespan.


Analogic representation involves representing information in a way that closely resembles the physical attributes or characteristics of the original stimuli. In other words, analogic representation preserves the perceptual qualities of the stimuli, such as size, shape, and color. It relies on similarity or resemblance between the representation and the original stimulus. Examples of analogic representation include mental images or mental maps that mimic the sensory properties of real-world objects or scenes.

Symbolic representation, on the other hand, involves representing information using abstract symbols or signs that stand for or represent specific concepts, ideas, or objects. These symbols do not necessarily resemble the original stimuli and may be arbitrary or conventional in nature. Symbolic representation relies on learned associations between symbols and their meanings rather than direct perceptual similarity. Examples of symbolic representation include language, mathematical symbols, and symbolic logic, where abstract symbols are used to represent concepts, numbers, or logical relationships.

In summary, the main difference between analogic and symbolic representation lies in the nature of the representation: analogic representation preserves perceptual similarity to the original stimuli, while symbolic representation relies on abstract symbols that may not resemble the original stimuli but convey meaning through learned associations.