Chapter 5: Working Memory Flashcards
The calling to mind of previously stored information
retrieval
The cognitive processes by which information is translated into a mental or internal representation and stored
encoding
The mental representation of stored information
memory trace
The mental “holding on” to information between the time it is encoded and the time it is retrieved
storage
The processes that prevent information from being retrieved from a memory store
forgetting
Model of memory that assumes information is retrieved, processed, and stored differently for each kind of memory
modal model
A memory store thought to hold on to incoming sensory information for very brief periods
sensory memory
A memory store thought to hold onto incoming information for up to 20-30 seconds; also called primary memory; thought to have a small capacity
short-term memory
A memory store thought to have a large, possibly infinite capacity that holds on to incoming information for long periods of time, perhaps permanently, also called secondary memory
long-term memory
The phenomenon that items at the beginning or end of a list of items are more easily recalled than are items from the middle of the list
serial position effect
The improvement in retention of information learned at the beginning of a task
primacy effect
The improved retention of information learned at the end of a task
recency effect
A mnemonic strategy of repeating information either aloud or silently to facilitate retention and later retrieval
rehearsal
A sensory memory for visual stimuli
icon
A sensory memory for auditory material
echo
The sum total of cognitive resources available at any given time
capacity
The formation of individual units of information into larger units; often used as a means of overcoming short-term memory limitations
chunking
The form in which information is mentally or internally represented
coding
The amount of time a memory trace remains available for retrieval
retention duration
A hypothesized process of forgetting in which material is thought to erode, break apart, or otherwise disintegrate or fade
decay
A hypothesized process of forgetting in which material is thought to be buried or otherwise displaced by other information, but still exists somewhere in the memory store
interference
A search for information in which several stores or slots of information are simultaneously examined to match to the target
parallel search
A search for information in which several stores or slots of information are sequentially examined for match to the target
serial search
A search for information that stops when a target is found
self-terminating search
