Coding, capacity and duration Flashcards
What is the definition of memory in psychology?
Memory is the process by which we encode, store, and retrieve information.
What are the three main stages of memory?
Encoding, storage, and retrieval.
True or False: Short-term memory can hold information for an indefinite period.
False.
What is the capacity of short-term memory according to Miller’s Law?
The capacity is typically 7 ± 2 items.
Fill in the blank: The process of converting sensory information into a form that can be stored is called ______.
encoding.
What is the duration of short-term memory?
Approximately 20 to 30 seconds.
What type of memory involves the recall of facts and events?
Declarative memory.
Name the two types of declarative memory.
Episodic memory and semantic memory.
True or False: Implicit memory is a type of long-term memory that is not consciously recalled.
True.
What is the role of the hippocampus in memory?
The hippocampus is crucial for the formation of new memories.
What is the difference between retroactive and proactive interference?
Retroactive interference occurs when new information interferes with old information; proactive interference occurs when old information interferes with new information.
What is the concept of ‘chunking’ in memory?
Chunking is a technique that involves grouping items into larger units to improve memory retention.
What is the method of loci?
A mnemonic device that involves visualizing items to be remembered in specific physical locations.
Fill in the blank: The serial position effect refers to the tendency to remember the ______ and ______ items in a list better than the middle items.
first; last.
What is the difference between recognition and recall?
Recognition involves identifying previously learned information, while recall involves retrieving information without cues.
True or False: Emotional memories are often more vivid and easier to recall than neutral memories.
True.
What is the purpose of the ‘spacing effect’ in memory retention?
The spacing effect suggests that information is better retained when study sessions are spaced out over time.
What is the term for the gradual fading of memories over time?
Memory decay.
What does the term ‘flashbulb memory’ refer to?
A vivid and detailed memory of a significant event.
Fill in the blank: The phenomenon where people remember the first and last items in a series better than the middle items is called the ______ position effect.
serial.
What is the term for the mental process of organizing and interpreting sensory information?
Perception.
What is the difference between semantic and episodic memory?
Semantic memory refers to general knowledge and facts, while episodic memory refers to personal experiences and specific events.
True or False: Long-term memory has a limited capacity.
False.
What is the process of retrieving information from long-term memory called?
Recall.
