Chapter 6: How Does Memory Function?

Question 1

Encoding:

Answer 1

The act of inputting information into memory.

Question 2

Memory Traces:

Answer 2

The stored code that represents a piece of information that has been encoded into memory.

Question 3

Storage:

Answer 3

The place where information is retained in memory,

Question 4

Retrieval

Answer 4

The process of accessing information in memory and pulling it into consciousness.

Question 5

Consciousness

Answer 5

An organism’s awareness of its own mental processes and / or its environment.

Question 6

Attention

Answer 6

An organism’s ability to focus its consciousness on some aspect of its own mental processes and / or its environment.

Question 7

Explicit Memory

Answer 7

The conscious use of memory.

Question 8

Implicit Memory

Answer 8

The unconscious use of memory.

Question 9

Sensory Memory

Answer 9

A system of memory that very briefly stores sensory impressions so that we can extract relevant information from them for further processing.

Question 10

Short Term Memory

Answer 10

A system of memory that is limited in both capacity and duration (7 plus or minus 2 items, for 30 seconds). In the 3 stages model of memory, this is seen as the intermediate stage between sensory memory and long-term memory.

Question 11

Long Term Memory

Answer 11

A system of memory that works to store memories for a long time, perhaps even permanently.

Question 12

Iconic Memory

Answer 12

Related to what we see

Question 13

Echoic Memory

Answer 13

Related to what we hear.

Question 14

Haptic Memory

Answer 14

Related to what we taste, smell, and touch.

Question 15

Dual Coding System

Answer 15

A system of memory that encodes information in more than one type of code or format.

Question 16

Chunking

Answer 16

A means of using one’s limited short term memory resources more efficiently by combining small bits of information to form larger bits of information, or chunks.

Question 17

Maintenance Rehearsal

Answer 17

Repeating information over and over again to keep it in short term memory for an extended period of time.

Question 18

Forgetting Curve

Answer 18

A graph of the amount of learned information that is forgotten over time. 75% of material learned using maintenance rehearsal is lost in only 2 days.

Question 19

Elaborative Rehearsal

Answer 19

Forming associations or links between information one is trying to learn and information already stored in long term memory so as to facilitate the transfer of this new information into long-term memory.

Question 20

Levels of Processing Model

Answer 20

A model that predicts that information that is processed deeply and elaboratively will be best retained in and recalled from long term memory.

Question 21

Primacy Effect

Answer 21

The tendency for people to recall words from the beginning of a list better than words that appeared in the middle of the list.

Question 22

Recency Effect

Answer 22

The tendency for people to recall words from the end of a list better than words that appeared in the middle of the list.

Question 23

Working Memory

Answer 23

A multifaceted component of long-term memory that contains short term memory, a central executive, a phonological loop, and a visuospatial sketch pad. The function of this form of memory is to access, move, and process information that we are currently using.

Question 24

Central Executive:

Answer 24

The attention controlling component of working memory. Loss of this is characteristic of Alzheimer patients, while faulty versions may be connected to ADHD.

Question 25

Semantic Encoding

Answer 25

Encoding memory traces in terms of the meaning of the information being stored.

Question 26

Schema

Answer 26

An organized, generalized knowledge structure in long term memory.

Question 27

Declarative Memory

Answer 27

A type of long term memory encompassing memories that are easily verbalized, including episodic and semantic memories.

Question 28

Semantic Memory

Answer 28

Long term, declarative memory for conceptual information

Question 29

Episodic Memory

Answer 29

Memory for the recent events in our lives.

Question 30

Autobiographical Memory

Answer 30

Memory for our past that gives us a sense of personal history.

Question 31

Procedural Memory

Answer 31

Long term memory for skills and behaviors

Question 32

Retrograde Amnesia

Answer 32

A type of amnesia in which one is unable to retrieve previously stored memories from long term memory.

Question 33

Anterograde Amnesia

Answer 33

A type of amnesia in which one is unable to store new memories in long term memory.

Question 34

Recall

Answer 34

A type of retrieval process in which the probe or cue does not contain much information

Question 35

Recognition

Answer 35

A type of retrieval process in which the probe or cue contains a great deal of information, including the item being sought.

Question 36

Decay Theory

Answer 36

A theory of forgetting that proposes that memory traces that are not routinely activated in long term memory will degrade

Question 37

Tip of the Tongue Phenomenon

Answer 37

Knowing you know a piece of information, even though you cannot recall it at the moment.

Question 38

Proactive Interference

Answer 38

A type of forgetting that occurs when older memory traces inhibit the retrieval of newer memory traces.

Question 39

Retroactive Interference

Answer 39

A type of forgetting that occurs when newer memory traces inhibit the retrieval of older memory traces.

Question 40

Cue-Dependent Forgetting

Answer 40

A type of forgetting that occurs when one cannot recall information in a context other than the context in which it was encoded.

Question 41

Repression

Answer 41

A type of forgetting proposed by Sigmund Freud in which memories for events, desires, or impulse that we find threatening are pushed into an inaccessible part of the mind called the unconscious.

Question 42

Flashbulb Memories

Answer 42

An unusually detailed and seemingly accurate memory for an emotionally charged event.