chapter 6, 7 Flashcards
the mental processes that enable you to encode, retain, and retrieve information over time
memory
the process of transforming information into a form that can be entered into and retained by the memory system
encoding
the process of retaining information in memory so that it can be used at a later time
storage
process of recovering information stored in memory so that we are consciously aware of it
retrieval
model describing memory as consisting of three distinct stages: sensory memory, short term memory and long term memory
stage model of memory
stage of memory that registers information from the environment and holds it for about 1/4 to 3 seconds, large capacity
sensory memory
active stage of memory in which information is stored for up to 20 seconds,new information is transferred from sensory memory, old information is retrieved from long term memory
short term memory
stage of memory that represents storage of memory unlimited capacity, potentially permanent, information that has been encoded in short term memory
long term memory
mental or verbal repetition of information in order to maintain it beyond the usual 20 second duration
maintenance rehearsal
increasing the amount of information that can be held in short term memory by grouping related items together into a single unit
chunking
temporary storage and active, conscious manipulation of information needed for complex cognitive tasks such as reasoning, learning, and problem solving
working memory
category of long term memory that includes memories of different skills, operations, and actions
procedural memory
category of long term memory that includes memories of particular events, including the time and place they occurred
episodic memory
category of long term memory that includes memories of general knowledge, concepts, facts, and names
semantic memory
Memory processed in the hippocampus and information or knowledge that can be consciously recollected, also called declarative memory,
explicit memory
Memory processed in the cerebellum and information or knowledge that affects behavior or task performance but cannot be consciously recollected also called nondeclarative memory
implicit memory
organizing items into related groups, or clusters, during recall from long term memory
clustering
model that describes units of information in long term memory as being organized in a complex network of associations
semantic network model
process of recovering information stored in memory so that we are consciously aware of it
retrieval
a clue, prompt, or hint that helps trigger recall of a given piece of information stored in long term memory
retrieval cue
inability to recall long term memories because of inadequate or missing retrieval cues
retrieval cue failure
a memory phenomenon that involves the sensation of knowing that specific information is stored in long term memory but being temporarily unable to retrieve it
tip of the tongue experience
a test of long term memory that involves retrieving information without retrieval cues also called free recall
recall
a test of long term memory that involves remembering an item of information in response to a retrieval cue
cued recall
a test of long term memory that involves identifying correct information out of several possible choices
recognition
the tendency to retrieve information more easily from the beginning and the end of a list rather than from the middle
serial position effect
the principle that retrieval is more likely to be successful when the conditions of information retrieval are similar to the conditions of information encoding
encoding specificity principle
the tendency to recover information more easily when the retrieval occurs in the same setting as the original learning of the information
context effect
an encoding specificity phenomenon in which a given mood tends to evoke memories that are consistent with that mood
mood congruence
the recall of very specific images or details surrounding a vivid, rare, or significant personal event
flashbulb memory
the inability to recall information that was previously available
forgetting
remembering to something in the future
prospective memory
the view that forgetting is due to normal brain processes that occur over time
decay theory
the theory that forgetting is caused by one memory competing with or replacing another memory
interference theory
backward acting memory interference in which new memory interferes with remembering an old memory
retroactive interference
forward acting memory interference in which an old memory interferes with remembering a new memory
proactive interference
motivated forgetting that occurs consciously, a deliberate attempt to not think about and remember specific information
suppression
motivated forgetting that occurs unconsciously, a memory that is blocked or unavailable to consciousness
repression
a memory distortion phenomenon in which your existing memories can be altered if you are exposed to misleading information
misinformation effect
organized clusters of information about particular topics
schemas
a memory distortion that occurs when the true source of the memory is forgotten
source confusion
a distorted or fabricated recollection of something that did not actually occur
false memory
a memory phenomenon in which vividly imagining an event markedly increases confidence that the event actually occurred
imagination inflation
the hypothetical brain changes associated with a particular stored memory
engram/memory trace
long lasting increase in synaptic strength between two neurons
long term potentiation
