chap 7

Question 1

Synaptic consolidation

Answer 1

A process of consolidation that involves structural changes at synapses that happen rapidly, over a period of minutes

Question 2

Levels-of-processing theory

Answer 2

The idea that memory depends on how information is encoded, with better memory being achieved when processing is deep than when processing is shallow. Deep processing involves attention to meaning and is associated with elaborative rehearsal. Shallow processing involves repetition with little attention to meaning and is associated with maintenance rehearsal.

Question 3

Levels of processing

Answer 3

Part of levels-of-processing theory that states that there are different depths of processing that can be achieved as information is being encoded.

Question 4

Testing effect

Answer 4

Enhanced performance on a memory test caused by being tested on the material to be remembered

Question 5

Encoding

Answer 5

The process of acquiring information and transferring it into memory.

Question 6

Consolidation

Answer 6

the process that transforms new memories into a state in which they are more resistant to disruption.

Question 7

Retrieval

Answer 7

The process of remembering information that has been stored in long-term memory.

Question 8

Spacing effect

Answer 8

The advantage in performance caused by short study sessions separated by breaks from studying.

Question 9

Transfer-appropriate processing

Answer 9

Transfer-appropriate processing
When the type of task that occurs during encoding matches the type of task that occurs during retrieval. This type of processing can result in enhanced memory.

Question 10

State-dependent learning

Answer 10

The principle that memory is best when a person is in the same state for encoding and retrieval. This principle is related to encoding specificity.

Question 11

Shallow processing

Answer 11

Processing that involves repetition with little attention to meaning. This is usually associated with maintenance rehearsal.

Question 12

Deep processing

Answer 12

Processing that involves attention to meaning and relating an item to something else. Deep processing is usually associated with elaborative rehearsal.

Question 13

Generation effect

Answer 13

Memory for material is better when a person generates the material him- or herself, rather than passively receiving it.

Question 14

Maintenance rehearsal

Answer 14

Rehearsal that involves repetition without any consideration of meaning or making connections to other information.

Question 15

Elaborative rehearsal

Answer 15

Rehearsal that involves thinking about the meaning of an item to be remembered or making connections between that item and prior knowledge.

Question 16

Reactivation

Answer 16

process that occurs during memory consolidation, in which the hippocampus replays the neural activity associated with a memory. During this, activity occurs in the network connecting the hippocampus and the cortex. This activity results in the formation of connections between the cortical areas.

Question 17

Reconsolidation

Answer 17

A process proposed by Nader and others that occurs when a memory is reactivated. This process is similar to the consolidation that occurs after initial learning, although it apparently occurs more rapidly.

Question 18

Paired-associate learning

Answer 18

A learning task in which participants are first presented with pairs of words, then one word of each pair is presented and the task is to recall the other word.

Question 19

Medial temporal lobe

Answer 19

An area in the temporal lobe that consists of the hippocampus and a number of surrounding structures. Damage to this causes problems in forming new long-term memories.

Question 20

Self-reference effect

Answer 20

Memory for a word is improved by relating the word to the self.

Question 21

Cued recall

Answer 21

A procedure for testing memory in which a participant is presented with cues, such as words or phrases, to aid recall of previously experienced stimuli.

Question 22

Free recall

Answer 22

A procedure for testing memory in which the participant is asked to remember stimuli that were previously presented.

Question 23

Retrieval cues

Answer 23

Cues that help a person remember information that is stored in memory.

Question 24

Remote memory

Answer 24

Memory for events that occurred long ago

Question 25

Standard model of consolidation

Answer 25

Proposes that memory retrieval depends on the hippocampus during consolidation, but that once consolidation is complete, retrieval no longer depends on the hippocampus.

Question 26

Encoding specificity

Answer 26

The principle that we learn information together with its context. This means that presence of the context can lead to enhanced memory for the information

Question 27

Depth of processing

Answer 27

The idea that the processing that occurs as an item is being encoded into memory can be deep or shallow. Deep processing involves attention to meaning and is associated with elaborative rehearsal. Shallow processing involves repetition with little attention to meaning and is associated with maintenance rehearsal. See also Levels of processing.

Question 28

Long-term potentiation

Answer 28

The increased firing that occurs in a neuron due to prior activity at the synapse.

Question 29

Graded amnesia

Answer 29

When amnesia is most severe for events that occurred just prior to an injury and becomes less severe for earlier, more remote events.

Question 30

Multiple trace hypothesis

Answer 30

The idea, associated with memory consolidation, that the hippocampus is involved in retrieval of remote memories, especially episodic memories. This contrasts with the standard model of memory, which proposes that the hippocampus is involved only in the retrieval of recent memories.

Question 31

Systems consolidation

Answer 31

A consolidation process that involves the gradual reorganization of circuits within brain regions and takes place on a long time scale, lasting weeks, months, or even years.