Memory Flashcards
Chunking
Grouping items together to make a single item - improves the capacity of short term memory.
Working memory
The ability of the STM to perform simple cognitive tasks
Contextual cues
Factors present at the original time and place of encoding which aid retrieval of information from the LTM e.g. smell/location/visual aids
Short term memory (STM)
Receives information from sensory memory and has a limited span
Elaboration
Aids encoding from STM into LTM. Involves analysing the item and taking note of its features and properties
Shallow encoding/processing
Less effective than deeper encoding. An example of shallow encoding is rehearsal.
Displacement
Loss of information from the STM due to replacement by other items.
Serial position effect
Capacity to recall items present in a sequence. The earliest and latest items are better recalled. The earliest due to rehearsal and transfer to LTM. The latest items displace those immediately before and are recalled from STM.
Encoding
Information (nerve signals) is converted into a form that the brain can store.
Sensory memory
Storage of sensory input that lasts a few seconds.
Long term memory (LTM)
Receives information from the STM and stores it for long periods of time.
Retrieval
Recall of information from LTM
Memory span
Capacity of STM for items (seven).
Rehearsal
Shallow method of encoding to LTM by repetition.
Organisation
Information structured into patterns, sequences or categories to aid transfer into LTM.
