Chapter 6: Memory Flashcards
Memory
the processes involved in the encoding, storage, and retrieval of information
Chunking
grouping numbers, letters, or other items into recognizable subsets as a strategy for increasing the quantity of information that can be maintained in short-term memory
Encoding
the process through which information enters our memory system; information is either encoded or lost
Storage
the process of preserving information for possible recollection in the future
Retrieval
the process of accessing information encoded and stored in memory
Levels of processing information
- shallow
- intermediate
- deep
Shallow
notice some physical features
Intermediate
notice patterns and a little more detail
Deep
think about meaning
Application
the testing effect
Who developed the stages of memory?
Richard Atkinson and Richard Shiffrin
Stages of memory
- sensory memory
- short-term memory
- long-term memory
Sensory memory
it captures near-exact copies of vast amounts of sensory stimuli for a very brief period
Short-term memory
temporarily maintains and processes a limited amount of information; duration is about 30 seconds
Long-term memory
essentially unlimited capacity and the ability to store information indefinitely
Iconic memory
visual impressions that are photograph-like in their accuracy but dissolve in less than a second
Echoic memory
exact copies of the sounds we hear
Flashbulb memory
a detailed account of circumstances surrounding an emotionally significant or shocking, sometimes historic, event; learned memory rather than “firsthand memories”
Eidetic imagery
the ability to “see” an image or object sometimes long after it has been removed from sight, describing its parts with amazing specificity; similar to the concept of photographic memory
Maintenance rehearsal
the technique of repeating information to be remembered
Working memory
the active processing of information in short-term memory; the maintenance and manipulation of information in the memory system
Who is associated with working memory?
Alan Baddeley and Graham Hitch
The 4 components of working memory
1- phonological loop
2- visuospatial sketchpad
3- episodic buffer
4- central executive
Central executive
directs attention
Visuospatial sketchpad
works with visual-spatial info
Episodic buffer
brings info together, allowing us to solve problems
Phonological loop
works with verbal info
Explicit memory
a type of memory you are aware of having and can consciously express in words or declare, including memories of facts and experiences
Implicit memory
a memory of something you know or know how to do, which may be automatic, unconscious, and difficult to bring to awareness and express
2 types of explicit memory
1- semantic memory
2- episodic memory
Semantic memory
general facts
Episodic memory
personal memories
2 types of implicit memory
1- procedural
2- declarative
Procedural memory
how to perform actions
Declarative memory
the conscious recollection of experiences, events, and information used in everyday living
What’s the best way to make memories?
- use mnemonics
- put in effort
- spacing is key
Elaborative rehearsal
connecting incoming information to knowledge in long-term memory
Distributive practice
spreading out study sessions over time with breaks in between
Retrieval cues
stimuli that help in the retrieval of stored information that is difficult to access
Priming
the stimulation of memories as a result of retrieval cues in the environment
Recall
the process of retrieving information held in long-term memory without the help of retrieval cues
Recognition
the process of matching incoming data to information stored in long-term memory
Serial position effect
the ability to recall items in a list depends on where they are in the series;
- primacy effect
- recency effect
Primacy effect
the tendency to remember items at the beginning of a list
Recency effect
the tendency to remember items at the end of a list
Encoding specificity principle
memories are more easily recalled when the context and cues at the time of encoding are similar to those at the time of retrieval
Hermann Ebbinghaus
- using the single-subject design, he was the first to quantify relearning
- noted the reduced time taken in relearning
- established the forgetting curve
Proactive interference
the tendency for information learned in the past to interfere with the retrieval of new information
Retroactive interference
the tendency for recently learned information to interfere with the retrieval of things learned in the past
Rich false memories
recollections of events that never occurred, which are expressed with emotions and confidence and include details
Misinformation
the tendency for new and misleading information to distort one’s memory of an incident
Anterograde amnesia
a type of memory loss; an inability to create new memories following damage to the brain
Retrograde amnesia
a type of memory loss; an inability to access memories formed before brain damage
