Chapter Four Flashcards
Articulatory Suppression
a task designed to prevent the rehearsal of information in the subvocal rehearsal mechanism of the articulatory loop
Attention Training
attempts to explicitly train immediate memory mechanisms via repetitive trials of tasks that are meant to “exercise” the brain’s ability to focus and manipulate attention
Brown-Peterson Task
a sequence of letters is encoded, followed by a distraction task of counting backward, followed by recall of the letter sequence
Central Executive
a limited-capacity control mechanism for working memory that is responsible for the higherlevel thought processes involved in planning, reasoning, and language comprehension
Chunking (Recording)
regrouping items in short-term memory
Decay
the loss of information from memory with the passage of time
Episodic Buffer
a subcomponent of working memory that is responsible for integrating information processed by the articulatory loop and the visuo-spatial sketchpad, as well as relevant information from longterm memory
Embedded Process View
the view that immediate memory represents the momentary and temporary activation of information in long-term memory
Executive Attention
function of immediate memory whereby we control the allocation of attention
Executive Control
characteristic of attention that allows for the selective (but capacity-limited) control of attention
Iconic Memory
extremely brief (<500 milliseconds) and rapidly decaying representation of a just-presented visual stimulus
Interference
when information currently in memory is negatively influenced by the presentation of other information
Immediate Memory
he active processing and manipulation of information in consciousness
Ironic Process of Controll Theory
proposes that the processes that we use to avoid distractions of disruptive thoughts have the effect of producing those very thoughts
Irrelevant Speech Effect
a spoken stimulus presented (even if irrelevant and “ignored”) during the processing of information, has the potential to disrupt memory for that information
Long Term Memory
the representations of experiences, knowledge, and skills that we have accumulated throughout our lifetimes
Magical number 7+/-2
the number of items we can hold in short-term memory
Memory Span
the capacity of short-term memory; the longest string of information a person can immediately recall
Multiple Systems Views
theoretical approaches that argue for a distinction between long-term memory and immediate memory structures and mechanisms
Mindfulness Meditation
an acute awareness of the present moment, including one’s present thoughts, emotions, and actions
Mind-Wandering
the subjective experience of and set of processes whereby our consciousness drifts away from the task at the focus of attention
Modal Model
the information-processing view of memory that postulates a series of chronologically arranged stages through which incoming information passes (sensory memory, shot-term memory, and longterm memory)
Phonological loop
Subsystem of the working memory model whereby we recycle information through articulation
Phonological similarity effect
the finding that lists of similar-sounding items are more difficult to keep track of in short-term memory than are lists of different sounding items
Phonological store
component of Baddeley’s working memory model; holds information temporarily and as such represents the time-limited nature of immediate memory
Primacy Effect
tendency to remember the earliest items in a presented list especially well
Proactive Interference
occurs when earlier information interferes with the ability to retain information that comes later
Recency Effect
tendency to remember the latest items in a presented list especially well
Released from Proactive Interference
the release from the cumulative effects of proactive interference when there is a change in the nature of the stimuli being encoded
Retention Interval
the amount of time between encoding and retrieval
Retroactive Interference
occurs when later information interferes with the ability to retain information that came earlier
Self-Regulation
the ability to delay immediate gratification and wait for a larger reward
Sensory Memory
proposed by the modal model of memory; an extremely brief representation of a justpresented stimulus
Serial Position Effect
memory for items as a function of list position; especially good memory for the earliest and latest items on a presented list
Short-Term Memory
the set of processes that we use to hold and rehearse information that occupies our current awareness
Subvocal Rehearsal Mechanism
component of Baddeley’s working memory model; allows for the repetition of information being held in the phonological loop
Unitary View of Memory
the view that short-term memory is not a separate memory system; rather, it is simply the currently activated portion of long-term memory
Visual Presistence
the continuation of the neural response to a visually presented stimulus after its removal; experienced as a fading icon or image
Visuo-spatial sketchpad
a subsystem of working memory that allows for the processing of spatial information and manipulation of visual images
Word-length effect
the finding that short-term memory span is negatively related to the length of encoded items
Working Memory Model
the processes involved in examining, considering, manipulating, and responding to internal and external events
