Chapter 6 Flashcards
the ability to store and retrieve information over time
Memory
3 Key Functions of Memory
Encoding
Storage
Retrieval
a function of memory; the process of transforming what we perceive, think, or feel into an enduring memory
Encoding
a function of memory; the process of maintaining information in memory over time
Storage
a function of memory, the process of bringing to mind information that has been previously encoded and stored
Retrieval
3 Types of Encoding
Semantic
Visual Imagery
Organizational
a type of encoding; the process of relating new information in a meaningful way to knowledge that is already stored in memory; greatly enhances long term retention
Semantic Encoding
a type of encoding; the process of storing new information by converting it into mental pictures; visual and verbal mental placeholders
Visual Imagery
a type of encoding; the process of categorizing information according to the relationships among a series of items
Organizational Encoding
3 Kinds of Memory Storage
Sensory Memory
Short Term Memory
Long Term Memory
a type of memory storage that holds sensory information for a few seconds or less; two types: iconic memory and echoic memory
Sensory Memory
a type of memory storage that holds non-sensory information for more than a few seconds but less than a minute
Short Term Memory
a type of memory storage that holds information for hours, days, weeks, or years; no known capacity limit
Long Term Memory
the process of keeping information in short term memory by mentally repeating it
Rehearsal
an effect where the first few and last few items in a series are more likely to be recalled than the items in the middle.
Serial Position Effect
combining small pieces of information into larger clusters that are more easily held in short-term memory.
Chunking
maintenance of information in short-term storage; has two subsystems: one for visual images and one for verbal information; the episodic buffer combines these; the central executive coordinates the subsystems and the episodic buffer
Working Memory
the inability to transfer new information from the short term store into the long term store
Anterograde Amnesia
the inability to retrieve information that was acquired before a particular date
Retrograde Amnesia
the process by which memories become stable in the brain
Consolidation
the process whereby memories can become vulnerable to disruption when they are recalled
Reconsolidation
a process whereby communication across the synapse between neurons strengthens the connection, making further communication easier
Long-term Potentiation
the process of bringing to mind information that has already been encoded and stored; perhaps one of the most important of all memory processes
Retrieval
external information that is associated with stored information and helps bring it to mind
Retrieval Cue
a principle that states a retrieval cue can serve as an effective reminder when it helps recreate the specific way in which information was initially encoded
Encoding Specificity Principle
the process whereby information tends to be better recalled when the person is in the same state during encoding and retrieval
State-dependent Retrieval
the idea that memory is likely to transfer from one situation to another when the encoding and retrieval contexts of the situations match
Transfer-appropriate Processing
a process by which retrieving an item from long term memory impairs subsequent recall of related items
Retrieval-induced Forgetting
2 Types of Memories
Explicit Memory
Implicit Memory
a type of memory where people consciously or intentionally retrieve past experiences
Explicit Memory
a type of memory where past experiences influence later behaviour and performance, even without an effort to remember them or an awareness of the recollection
Implicit Memory
the gradual acquisition of skills as a result of practice; “knowing how” to do things
Procedural Memory
an enhanced ability to think of a stimulus, such as a word or an object, as a result of a recent exposure to the stimulus
Priming
Two Types of Priming
Perceptual
Conceptual
a type of priming; reflects implicit memory for sensory features of an item
Perceptual Priming
a type of priming; reflects implicit memory for the meaning of a word
Conceptual Priming
Two Types of Explicit Memory
Semantic
Episodic
a type of explicit memory; a network of associated facts and concepts that make up our general knowledge of the world
Semantic Memory
a type of explicit memory; the collection of past personal experiences that occurred at a particular time and place
Episodic Memory
generating creative ideas by combining different types of information in new ways
Divergent Creative Thinking
how people remember in groups
Collaborative Memory
the combined recall of several individuals recalling target items on their own
Nominal Group
the same number of individuals working together recall fewer items than they would on their own
Collaborative Inhibition
when each member of a couple remembers certain kinds of information that they can share with the other
Collaborative Remembering
or
Transactive Memory
Seven Sins of Memory
Transience Absentmindedness Blocking Memory Misattribution Suggestibility Bias Persistence
a sin of memory; forgetting what occurs with the passage of time; occurs during storage phase of memory, after encoding, before retrieval; most forgetting occurs soon after the event occurs, increasingly less forgetting as more time passes.
Transience
situations in which later learning impairs memory for information acquired earlier
Retroactive Interference
situations in which earlier learning impairs memory for information acquired later
Proactive Interference
a sin of memory; a lapse in attention that results in memory failure.
Absentmindedness
remembering to do things in the future
Prospective Memory
a sin of memory; a failure to retrieve information that is available in memory even though you are trying to produce it; occurs for names of people and places
Blocking
a sin of memory; assigning a recollection or an idea to the wrong source; could be the cause of deja vu experiences
Memory Misattribution
a feeling of familiarity about something that hasn’t been encountered before
False Recognition
a sin of memory; the tendency to incorporate misleading information from external sources into person recollections; social pressure enhances this
Suggestibility
a sin of memory; the distorting influences of present knowledge, beliefs, and feelings on recollection of previous experiences; people remember the past as they want to rather than how it actually was
Bias
the bias to reconstruct the past to fit the present
Consistency Bias
the tendency to exaggerate differences between what we feel or what we feel or believe now and what we felt or believed in the past
Change Bias
a special case of change bias; the tendency to exaggerate the change between present and past in order to make ourselves look good
Egocentric Bias
a sin of memory; the intrusive recollection of events that we wish we could forget; occurs after traumatic incidents
Persistence
detailed recollections of when and where we heard about shocking events
Flashbulb Memories
