chapter 6 Flashcards
memory
memory
the ability to store and retrieve info over time
encoding
the process of transforming what we perceive, think , or feel into an enduring memory
storage
the process of maintaining info in memory over time
retrieval
the process of bringing to mind info that has been previously encoded and stored
semantic encoding
the process of relating new info in a meaningful way to knowledge that is already stored in memory
visual imagery encoding
the process of storing new info by converting it into mental pictures
organizational encoding
the process of categorizing info according to the relationship among a series of items
mnemonics
encoding strategies that improve subsequent retrieval
sensory memory
a type of storage that holds sensory for a few seconds
iconic memory
a fast decaying store of visual info
echoic memory
a fast decaying store of auditory info
short term memory
a type of storage that holds non sensory info for more than a few seconds but less than a minute
rehearsal
the process of keeping info in short term memory by mentally repeating it
serial position effect
the observation that the 1st and last few items in a series are more likely to be recalled that the items in the middle
chunking
combining small pieces of info into larger clusters that are more easily held in short term memory
working memory
active maintenance of info in short term memory
long term memory
a type of storage that hold info for hours, days, months, or years
anterograde amnesia
the inability to transfer new info from the short term store to long term store
retrograde amnesia
the inability to retrieve info that was acquired before a particular date, usually the date of an injury
consolidation
the process by which memories become stable in the brain
reconsolidation
the process whereby memories can become vulnerable to disruption when they are recalled, thus requiring them to be consolidates again
long term potentiation (LTP)
a process whereby repeated communication across the synapse between neurons strengthens the connection, making further communication easier
retrieval cue
external info that is associated with stored info and helps bring it to mind
encoding specificity principle
the idea that a retrieval cue can be an effective reminder when it helps recreate the specific way in which info was initially encoded
state dependent retrieval
the process whereby info tends to be better recalled when the person is in the same state during encoding and retrieval
transfer appropriate processing
the idea that memory is likely to transfer from 1 situation to another when the encoding and retrieval contexts of the situations match
retrieval induced forgetting
a process by which retrieving an item from long term memory impairs subsequent recall of related items
explicit memory
the act of consciously or intentionally retrieving past experiences.
implicit memory
the influence of past experiences on later behavior and performance even without an effort to remember them or an awareness of the recollection
procedural memory
the gradual acquisition of skills as a result of practice, or “knowing how” to do things
priming
an enhanced ability to think of a stimulus, such as a word or object, as a result of recent exposure to that stimulus during an earlier study task
semantic memory
a network of associated facts and concepts that make up our general knowledge of the world
episodic memory
the collection of past personal experiences that occurred at a particular time and place
transience
forgetting what occurs with the passage of time
retroactive interference
interference with retention of old info due to acquisition of new info
proactive interference
interference with acquisition of new info due to previous learning of info
absentmindedness
a lapse in attention that results in memory failure
prospective memory
remembering to do things in the future
blocking
a failure to retrieve info that is available in memory even though you are trying to produce it
source memory
recall of when, where, and how info was acquired
false recognition
a feeling of familiarity about something that hasn’t been encountered before
suggestibility
the tendency to incorporate misleading info from external sources into personal experiences
bias
the distorting influences of present knowledge, beliefs, and feelings on recollection of previous experiences.
persistence
the intrusive recollection of events that we wish we could forget
flashbulb memories
detailed recollections of when and where we heard about shocking events
memory illusion
false but subjectively compelling memory
retention interval
a period during which the learning or practice pf a behavior does not occur
interference
loss of info from memory because of competition from additional incoming info
decay
fading of info from memory over time
magic number
the assumed span of short term memory ; 7 + or - pieces of new info
maintenance rehearsal
repeating stimuli in their original form to retain them in short term memory
elaborative rehearsal
linking stimuli to each other in a meaningful way to improve retention of info in shorty term memory
levels of processing/ depth processing
a model of memory that posits the more deeply we process info, the better we are at remembering it ( transferring it to LTM). has 3 levels; structural ( visual), phonological (auditory), semantic (its meaning).
permastore
type of long term memory that appears to be permanent
primacy effect
tendency to remember words at the beginning of a list especially well. traditionally thought to reflect LTM processes
recency effect
tendency to remember words at the end of a list especially well. traditionally thought to reflect STM processes.
repeated retrieval
repeatedly trying to recall/ use material over time. i.e. quizzing yourself
semantic priming
semantically relating words will result in faster reaction times
memory as a network of associations
theory that memory can be represented as a network of associated concepts. each concept is represented by a node, and lines between each node represent associations.
engram
hypothesized, physical trace of a memory with in the brain. Karl Lashley, trained rats in a maze. lesioned brain areas
Hebbian learning
Donald Hebb. hypothesized that when axon of cell 1 is close enough to excite cell 2 and does this continuously, some growth process/ metabolic change takes place in one or both cells. such that cell 1’s efficiency is increased
Alzheimer’s disease
degenerative brain disease that results in dementia. language and other body processes deteriorate. strong genetic component associated with neurological abnormalities like deterioration of acetylcholine neurons in cortex
infantile amnesia
inability of adults to remember personal experiences that took place before an early age . occurs for events before 2-3. may be due to underdeveloped hippocampus
crypto amnesia
failure to recognize that our ideas originates with someone else. may be result of source monitoring confusion/ lack of clarity of origin of memory
misinformation effect
creation of fictitious memories by providing misleading info about an event after it takes place
