memory

Question 1

memory

Answer 1

an information processing system that works constructively to encode, store, and retrieve information

Question 2

3 key memory processes

Answer 2

1. encoding
2. storing
3. retrieving

Question 3

how does forgetting occur?

Answer 3

failure of any 3 of the memory stages to take place

Question 4

encoding

Answer 4

process that controls movement from STM (working memory) to LTM (getting information in)

Question 5

storage

Answer 5

to keep memory in the STM through rehearsal or practice

Question 6

retrieval

Answer 6

process that controls flow of information from LTM to STM (getting information out)

Question 7

3 major stages of memory

Answer 7

1. sensory memory
2. short-term memory (STM)
3. long-term memory (LTM)

Question 8

what 3 factors do the stages of memory differ in?

Answer 8

1. capacity - how MUCH info can be stored
2. duration - how LONG the info can be stored
3. function - what is DONE with the info stored (capacity+function)

Question 9

sensory input

Answer 9

everything we see, hear, taste, touch, and smell

Question 10

when sensory input is ENCODED, it goes into our

Answer 10

sensory memory

Question 11

sensory memory

Answer 11

function - holds information long enough for it to be processed for basic physical characteristics

capacity - large (can hold many items at once)

duration - very brief retention

Question 12

_____ is needed to transfer info from sensory memory into working memory

Answer 12

attention

Question 13

sensory memory is divided into 2 types

Answer 13

• iconic memory (visual info) - retained for around 250s
• echoic memory (auditory info) - retained for around 3s

Question 14

psychologists believe that during the sensory memory stage, there is a separate register for each sense

Answer 14

iconic memory - eye
echoic memory - ear
tactile memory - touch
olfactory memory - smell
gustatory memory - taste

Question 15

which memory stage forms automatically without attention or interpretation

Answer 15

sensory memory

Question 16

when information is given attention, it will go into STM, which has a capacity of

Answer 16

7 ± 2 pieces of information

Question 17

maintenance rehearsal

Answer 17

the action of repeating or practicing information in order to keep it in STM

Question 18

also known as working memory

Answer 18

short-term memory

Question 19

short-term memory consists of 3 components

Answer 19

• central executive - resembles “attention”
• phonological loop - holds info in a speech-based form
• visuo-spatial sketchpad - specialized for holding visual and spatial info

Question 20

short-term memory

Answer 20

function - conscious processing of info

capacity - limited (holds 7 ± 2 items)

duration - brief storage (20s)

Question 21

if maintenance rehearsal cannot be used

Answer 21

memory decays quickly

Question 22

an example of a way to improve STM

Answer 22

chunking (grouping small bits of info into larger units)

Question 23

once info is passed from sensory information to working memory (rehearsed), it can then be encoded into the

Answer 23

long-term memory

Question 24

long-term memory

Answer 24

function - organizes and stores information (more passively than STM)

capacity - unlimited

duration - unlimited

Question 25

what is usually encoded from a piece of information?

Answer 25

meaning rather than the exact expression

Question 26

storage into long-term memory is known as

Answer 26

consolidation

Question 27

long term potentiation

Answer 27

strengthening of synapses, the cellular foundation for memory

Question 28

retroactive interference

Answer 28

new information interferes with the retention of old info in working memory

Question 29

proactive interference

Answer 29

old information interferes with the recall of new info

Question 30

ways to strengthen retrieval

Answer 30

• mnemonics
• method of loci
• making something personally relevant

Question 31

proactive and retroactive retrieval interference

Answer 31

proactive - new phone number replaces old phone number

retroactive - old route home blocks new route home

Question 32

factors that affect retrieval

Answer 32

• level of processing
• organization of info
• context

Question 33

types of long-term memory

Answer 33

• episodic memory
• semantic memory
• declarative
• procedural
• prospective

Question 34

stores every event/situation you have been involved in

Answer 34

episodic memory (autobiographical)

Question 35

memory of facts about the world
ex: london is the capital of UK

Answer 35

semantic memory

Question 36

memory of facts and events, refers to memories that are explicitly recalled (explicit memory)

Answer 36

declarative memory

Question 37

memory for procedures
ex: how to ride a bike

Answer 37

procedural memory

Question 38

memory for things to be done in the future

Answer 38

prospective memory