MCAT Psychology Memory/Learning Flashcards
An inability to form new memories
Anterograde amnesia
Process of learning in which one event, object, or action is directly connected with another. Two general categories include classical and operant conditioning
Associative learning
Parents impose strict rules that are expected to be followed unconditionally
Authoritarian parenting
Parents place limits on behavior and consistently follow through on consequences, but also allow for two-way communication with children
Authoritative parenting
The process by which one learns to ensure that a negative stimulus will not occur
Avoidance learning
The idea that information that is thought about at a deeper level is better remembered
Depth of processing
Occurs when the conditioned stimulus is differentiated from other stimuli
Discrimination (scientific)
The restoration to full strength of a response to a stimulus that had previously become weakened through habituation
Dishabituation
A hypothesis that is easier to remember words with associated images than either words or images alone
Dual coding hypothesis
The process of transferring sensory information into the memory system
Encoding
Autobiographical memory for information of personal importance
Episodic memory
Through operant conditioning, this is the process of learning to engage in a particular behavior in order to get away from a negative or aversive stimulus
Escape learning
Memories that can be consciously recalled, such as factual knowledge
Explicit (or declarative) memory
In classical conditioning, the unpairing of the conditioned and unconditioned stimuli
Extinction
Inaccurate memory created by the power of imagination or suggestion
False memory
Reinforcement schedule in which reward is offered after a set period of time has passed
Fixed-interval schedule
Reinforcement schedule in which reward is offered after a set number of instances of a behavior
Fixed-ratio schedule
Intense vivid “snapshot” of an emotionally intense experience
Flashbulb memory
In classical conditioning, the process by which stimuli similar to a conditioned stimulus elicit the conditioned response
Generalization
Action that is performed repeatedly until it becomes automatic
Habit
A decrease in response to a stimulus after repeated presentations
Habituation
The brief photographic memory for visual information, which decays in a few tenths of a second
Iconic memory
Memory that involves conditioned associations and knowledge of how to do something
Implicit (or procedural) memory
A lack of explicit memory for events that occurred before the age of roughly 3.5 years
Infantile amnesia
Category of attachment style in which infants are less likely to explore the environment in the presence of the mother and less likely to be soothed by her
Insecure attachment
Sudden flash of inspiration that provides a solution to a problem
Insight learning
Learning that takes place in the absence of any observable behavior to show that it has occurred
Latent learning
The unintended or less recognizable consequences or a social structure
Latent functions
Information that is retained long-term, potentially indefinitely
Long-term memory
A memory technique that involves imagining moving through a familiar place, and leaving visual representation topics to be remembered
Method of loci
Neurons that fire when a particular behavior or emotion is observed in another
Mirror neurons
A tendency to misremember an event, particularly when misleading information is presented between the event and the mental encoding of the event
Misinformation effect
Any memory technique use to promote the retention and retrieval of information
Mnemonic
Mechanism behind observational learning in which an observer sees a behavior performed, then imitates the behavior
Modeling
When learning occurs during a particular emotional state, it is most easily recalled when one is again in that emotional state
Mood-dependent memory
The removal of a positive or rewarding stimulus that decreases the likelihood of that behavior
Negative punishment
The removal of a negative or aversive stimulus following a behavior. Tends to increase the frequency of that behavior
Negative reinforcement
A form of associative learning based on consequences, in which rewards increase the frequency of behaviors and punishments decrease their frequency
Operant conditioning
In response to stroking a baby’s palm, the baby’s hand will grasp. This reflex lasts a few months
Palmar grasp reflex
Mnemonic strategy that involves assigning images to a sequence of numbers
Peg word method
Parenting style that creates few rules and demands and little discipline
Permissive parenting
The introduction of a negative or aversive stimulus following a behavior. Tends to decrease the likelihood of that behavior
Positive punishment
Reward immediately following a behavior that increases the frequency of that behavior
Positive reinforcement
When old information facilitates the learning of new information
Positive transfer
Unconditioned consequences that are innately satisfying or desirable. May be biologically driven
Primary reinforcers
An effect of implicit memory whereby exposure to a given stimulus “primes” or prepares the brain to respond to a later stimulus
Priming
A type of memory interference that occurs when previously learned information interferes with the recall of information learned more recently
Proactive interference
Remembering to do something in the future
Prospective memory
Retrieving information from memory
Recall
Retrieving information from memory with the use of cues
Recognition
Theory that memory is constructed rather than a perfect recollection of an event
Reconstructive memory
Theory that suggests that memory recall occurs through storage of the original stimulus input and subsequent recall
Reproductive memory
The amount of time elapsed since information was learned and when it must be recalled
Retention interval
A type of memory interference that occurs when newly learned information interferes with the recall of information learned previously
Retroactive interference
Occurs when one is unable to recall information that was previously encoded
Retrograde amnesia
In response to touching one of a baby’s cheeks, it will turn its head in the direction of the stroke and open its mouth to “root” for a nipple
Rooting reflex
Conditioned reinforcers that are learned through their relationship with primary reinforcers
Secondary reinforcers
An attachment style that forms when an infant has caregivers who are sensitive and responsive to needs
Secure attachment
The tendency to better remember information relevant to ourselves
Self-reference effect
Memory for factual information
Semantic memory
An increase in the strength of a response with a repeated presentation of a stimulus
Sensitization
The initial recording of sensory information in the memory system: __is a very brief snapshot that quickly delays
Sensory memory
When information is presented in a list, individuals are more likely to recall the first and last items presented
Serial position effect
In operant conditioning, the process of reinforcing intermediate proximal behaviors until a final desired behavior is achieved
Shaping
Memory that is limited in duration and in capacity
Short-term memory
A specific type of error of recollection where a memory is incorrectly attributed to the wrong source
Source monitoring error
In classical conditioning, a reoccurence of a previously extinct conditioned response in the presence of a conditioned stimulus
Spontaneous recovery
Developmentally typical anxiety displayed by children aged eight to twelve months toward strangers
Stranger anxiety
In response to anything touching the roof of the baby’s mouth, it will begin to suck
Sucking reflex
In response to its head being turned to one side, a baby will stretch out its arm on the same side and the opposite arm bends up at the elbow
Tonic neck reflex
A response that automatically follows an unconditioned stimulus, without necessitating learning and conditioning to create the link
Unconditioned response
A stimulus that elicits an unconditioned response automatically, without necessitating learning and conditioning to create the link
Unconditioned stimulus
In response to the soles of a baby’s feet touching a flat surface, they will attempt to “walk” by placing one foot in front of the other
Walking/stepping reflex
Short term memory for information in immediate awareness, consisting of four components:
- a central executive
- phonological loop
- visuospatial sketchpad
- episodic buffer
Working memory
The ___ of the brain is important in negative conditioning
Amygdala
The ___ of the brain is believed to be particularly important in positive conditioning
Hippocampus
Food and avoiding pain and danger are all forms of
Primary positive and negative reinforcers
If a child reads a book and receives a stamp and 10 stamps gets her a pizza the stamps are__
secondary reinforcers
Continuous reinforcement will result in rapid behavior ___ but also rapid __
acquisition and extinction
Intermittent reinforcmeent schedule typically results in __
slower acquisiton of behavior but great persistence
The two reinforcement schedules that produce the highest response rate in operant conditioning are__and__
Fixed ratio schedule
Variable ratio schedule
The best way to teach new behavior with operant conditioning is __
Continuous reinforcement
The slowest rate of extinction of a response in operant conditioning is through__
Variable ratio
Two types of sensory memory are __ and ___
iconic memory and echoic memory
Information from sensory memory decays rapidly if it is not passed through __ into short-term memory
Broadbent’s filter
___ which is strongly correlated with the hippocampus, is where new information sought to be remembered resides temporarily and is then encoded to long-term memory or forgotten
Short term memory
___ which is strongly correlated with the prefrontal cortex, is a storage bin to hold memories that are needed at a particular moment in order to process information or solve a problem
Working memory
___ and __ are two subdivisions of Explicit memory
Semantic memory and Episodic memory
Knowing that the capital of England is London is factual this is an example of ___
Semantic memory
Remembering the fish I caught on christmas that was 25 lbs is an example of a memory of personal importance, an example of __
Episodic memory
The ___ is necessary for the encoding of new explicit memories
Hippocampus
The ___ is involved in learning skills and conditioned associations (implicit memories)
Cerebellum
The ___ is involved in associating emotion with memories, particularly negative memoires
Amygdala
___ involves retrieving information when provided with a cue
Cued recall
__ involves retrieving the item “out of thin air”
Free recall
__ is a mental blueprint containing common aspects of some part of the world. For example, if asked to describe what your 4th grade classroom looked like, you might “remember” a chalkboard, chalk, desks, posters encouraging reading, and books, based on your schema for such a classroom, even though the room may not have had posters
Schema
This reflex lasts from birth-6 months and is the response to a loud sound or sudden movement, an infant will startle; throw its head back and extend its arms and legs, then pull arms and legs back in
Moro (startle) reflex
In response to the sole of the foot being stroked, the babys big toe moves upward or toward the top surface of the foot and the other toes fan out
Babinski reflex
__ are primitive, involuntary movements that serve to “prime” the neuromuscular system to from the basis for the more sophisticated movement to come. This occurs from age 0-1 years
Reflexive movements
__ serve as the first voluntary movement performed by a child, from birth to age 2, includes rolling, sitting, crawling, standing, and walking
Rudimentary movements
__ stage occurs from age 2-7 during this time child is learning to manipulate his or her body through actions such as running, jumping, throwing, catching
Fundamental movement
