Chapter 6: Acquisition of Memories and the Working-Memory System

Question 1

acquisition

Answer 1

process of gaining information and placing it into memory

Question 2

storage

Answer 2

the state in which memory, once acquired, remains until retrieved

memories in storage may be integrated with new knowledge

Question 3

retrieval

Answer 3

the process of locating information in the memory and activating said information for use

Question 4

what are the three main steps memory takes?

Answer 4

acquisition
storage
retrieval

Question 5

modal model

Answer 5

conception of the “architecture” of memory

working memory is the storage and the loading dock for the long-term memory

Question 6

sensory memory

Answer 6

holds onto just-seen or just-heard info in raw sensory form

Question 7

short-term memory

Answer 7

the place where you hold information while you’re working on it

now called working memory

Question 8

working memory

Answer 8

formerly known as short-term memory

the place where you hold information while you’re working on it

uses active processes

Question 9

long-term memory (LTM)

Answer 9

storage system in which we hold all of our knowledge and all of our memories

contains memories that are not currently activated

(those that are activated are represented in working memory

Question 10

free recall procedure

Answer 10

method used for testing what research participants remember

participants are given a broad cue (“what happened yesterday?”) and then try to name relevant items

flexibility in order (they don’t need to be chronological)

Question 11

primacy effect

Answer 11

advantage in remembering early-presented materials within a sequence of materials

at the beginning of a sequence, you don’t have to divide attention between items

Question 12

recency effect

Answer 12

tendency to remember items that occurred late in a series

they are still in working memory

Question 13

serial position

Answer 13

data pattern summarizing the relationship between some performance measure and the order in which items are presented

because of recency and primacy it tends to be “U” shaped

Question 14

memory rehearsal

Answer 14

any activity that has the effect of maintaining information in working memory

two types: maintenance and relational

Question 15

digit-span task

Answer 15

task used for measuring the working memory storage capacity

the length of the longest list someone can recall is their digit span

eg. “1252” then “18372” then “048292” and so on

Question 16

7 plus-or-minus 2

Answer 16

estimate for the capacity of working memory

Question 17

chunks

Answer 17

hypothetical storage unit in working memory

“7 plus-or-minus 2” chunks

unspecified amount of info can be held in a chunk

Question 18

operation span

Answer 18

measure of working memory’s capacity

predictive of performance in many tasks, presumably because such tasks rely on working memory

modern replacement for the digit-span task

Question 19

working-memory capacity (WMC)

Answer 19

measure of working memory derived from operation span tasks

measure of one’s ability to store some materials while simultaneously working with others

Question 20

working-memory system

Answer 20

system of mental resources for holding info in an easily accessible form

the central executive is at the heart of the system

executive relies on a number of low-level assistants, including the visuospatial buffer and the articulately rehearsal loop

Question 21

articulatory rehearsal loop

Answer 21

one of the low-level assistants hypothesized as being part of the working-memory system

this loop draws on subvocalized speech, which serves to create a record in the phonological buffer

materials in this buffer then fade, but they can be refreshed by another cycle of covert speech

Question 22

subvocalization

Answer 22

covert speech in which one goes through the motions of speaking, or perhaps forms a detailed motor plan for speech movements, but without making any sound

Question 23

phonological buffer

Answer 23

a passive storage system used for holding a representation of recently heard or self produced sounds

Question 24

concurrent articulation task

Answer 24

the speaking or mimicking of speech while doing some other task

these procedures occupy the muscle control mechanisms needed for speech, so they prevent the person from using these resources for subvocalization

Question 25

maintenance rehearsal

Answer 25

a rote, mechanical process in which items are continually cycled through working memory, merely by being repeated over and over

contrast with relational rehearsal

Question 26

relational rehearsal

Answer 26

form of mental processing in which one thinks about the relations or connections among ideas

the connections created in this way will later guide memory search

Question 27

intentional learning

Answer 27

acquisition of memories in a setting in which people know that their memory for the information will be tested later

contrast with incidental learning

Question 28

incidental learning

Answer 28

learning that takes place in the absence of any intention to learn and, correspondingly, in the absence of a memory test

contrast with intentional learning

Question 29

shallow processing

Answer 29

mode of thinking about material in which one pays attention only to appearances and other superficial aspects of the material

shallow processing typically leads to poor memory retention

contrast with deep processing

Question 30

deep processing

Answer 30

mode of thinking in which a person pays attention to the meaning and implications of the material

typically leads to excellent retention

contrast with shallow processing

Question 31

level of processing

Answer 31

assessment of how “deeply” newly materials are engaged

Question 32

retrieval paths

Answer 32

connection or series of connections that can lead to a sought-after memory in long-term storage

Question 33

mnemonic strategies

Answer 33

techniques designed to improve memory accuracy and to make learning easier

help memory by imposing an organization onto the materials learned

Question 34

peg-word system

Answer 34

type of mnemonic strategy using words or locations as pegs on which to hang the materials to be remembered