Ch. 7 Definitions Flashcards
Artificial intelligence (AI)
Scientific field that focuses on creating machines capable of performing activities that require intelligence when they are done by people
Encoding
Process by which information gets into memory
Automaticity
Ability to process information with little or no effort
Strategy construction
Creation of new procedures for processing information
Metacognition
Knowing about knowing
Attention
Focusing of mental resources
Selective attention
Focusing on a specific aspect of experience that is relevant while ignoring what is irrelevant
Divided attention
Concentrating on more than one activity at the same time
Sustained attention
Ability to maintain attention to a selected stimulus for a prolonged period of time
Executive attention
Cognitive process involving planning actions, allocating attention to goals, detecting and compensating for errors, monitoring progress on tasks, and dealing with novel or difficult circumstances
Joint attention
Focus by individuals on the same object or event; requires an ability to track another’s behavior, direct another’s attention, and reciprocal interaction
Memory
Retention of information over time
Schema theory
Stating that people mold memories to fit information that already exists in their minds
Schemas
Mental frameworks that organize concepts and information
Implicit memory
Memory without conscious recollection; memory of skills and routines and procedures performed automatically
Explicit memory
Conscious memory of facts and experiences
Long-term Memory
Relatively permanent and unlimited type of memory
Short-term memory
Retention of information up to 15-30 seconds without rehearsal of information; rehearsal allows longer recall from short-term memory
Working memory
Mental “workbench” where individuals manipulate and assemble information when making decisions, solving problems, and comprehending written and spoken language
Elaboration
Engagement in more extensive processing of information, benefiting memory
Fuzzy-trace theory
Memory is best understood by considering two types of memory representations: verbatim and gist
Episodic memory
Retention of information about the where and when of life’s happenings
Semantic memory
Person’s knowledge about the world including fields of expertise, general academic knowledge, “everyday knowledge” about meanings of words, names of famous individuals, important places, and common things
Source memory
Ability to remember where something was learned
Prospective memory
Remembering to do something in the future
Thinking
Manipulating and transforming information in memory in order to reason, reflect, think critically, evaluate ideas and solve problems, and make decisions
Concepts
Cognitive groupings of similar objects, events, people, or ideas
Executive function
Concept encompassing higher-level cognitive processes linked to the development of the brain’s prefrontal cortex; managing thoughts to engage in goal-directed behavior and exercise self-control
Critical thinking
Thinking reflectively and productively and evaluating the evidence
Fuzzy-trace theory dual-process model
Decision-making is influenced by two systems: verbatim analytical and gist-based which operate in parallel (gist benefits adolescents more)
Expertise
Having extensive, highly organized knowledge and understanding of a particular domain
Metamemory
Knowledge about memory
Theory of mind
Thoughts about how one’s own mental processes work and the mental processes of others
