memory Flashcards
Human memory
Reconstruction of prior experience. Described with terms such as encoding, storage, and retreival
Encoding
Information first being learned or how it initially enters the brain. Selective process that is highly dependent on attention
Storage
What info is being stored in the brain and how. This can be modified
Retreival
How we access prior experience to make use of them in the present. Also dependent on retrieval cues
Study /encoding phase
Participants shown words or pics and asked to process them
Retention interval (storage)
A set amnt of time where the information is stored in the memory
Test/retrieval phase
Participants are asked something ABT the item in the study phase
Retreival cue
Any piece of info that can be used to access other info that is stored in the memory
Two common ways to test memory from encoding phase
Free recall test: few retrieval cues are provided and participants are asked to retrieve as many info as they can
Recognition test: participants are shown several items and whether the words are old/new
Multi store model
Incoming info is first stored in the short term memory buffer and then it can be transferred to the long term if sufficiently rehearsed
Chunking info
Allows us to store more info in the short term memory
Primacy effect
Words at the beginning of the list enters the memory first. First in the list would be rehearsed more therefore entering the long term storage. Middle items not remembered as well.
Recency effect
The last items remain in short term memory so you remember them. A distractor task diminishes recency effect
Different levels of encoding
Shallow level: little effort and encodes physical characteristics and subsequent memory performance is poor
Moderate/acoustic level: some effort and encodes acoustic characteristic; moderate memory performance
Deeper level: significant effort and encodes semantics; better memory performance
Levels of processing principle
The more we try to organize and understand the material, the better we remember it. Better fit for simple words
Encoding specificity
We encode a vast amount of context when we learn info - the setting, our own state of mind and so on. We recall info best if our context at the time of recall matches at the time of learning or encoding
Negatively accelerating forgetting curve
Suggests that the forgetting Raye per unit time is greater shortly after encoding and gradually decreases as time moves on
fluency
The ease with which an experience is processed, some experiences are easier (more fluent) than others
Attribution
Judgement tying together causes with effects
Sensory memory
The transient maintenance of perceptual and physical info from the very recent past. Iconic memory, echoic and haptic all maintain a similar transient representation of an experience via sensory memory. Very fastly decays
Working memory model
Consists of three short term buffers; phonological/articulatory loop, visuuospatial loop and episodic buffer. Modern understanding of short term memory
Phonological loop
Stores phonological information briefly and contains info that can be rehearsed
Visuospatial sketchpad
Stores visual information briefly. Like evoking a mental map on how to get to work
Episodic buffer
Thought to draw on from the previous buffers and stored long term memories to remember past specific experiences
Central executive
Coordinates and manipulated the info stored in the working memory buffers
schemas
With regards to memory, it is the mental frameworks for interpreting the world around us based on prior experiences
Declarative/explicit memory
Sundivision of long term memory. Memories for factual or semantic info or memories that are tied to a particular place and time (episodic memory)
Nondeclarative/ implicit memory
A combo of implicit and procedural memories. These memories are more automatic and unconscious. Hard to explain skills such as bike riding
Mnemonic strategy
A device such as a pattern of letters, ideas, or associations that assists in remembering something
Self referent effect
Info encoded with me in mind is better remembered than info encoded with something or someone else in mind
Transfer appropriate processing
Remembering is enhanced when similar processes are engaged at coding and retrieval
Decay theory
The idea that forgetting occurs because memories naturally fade over time
Proactive interference
Info learned prior to a specific memory interferes with its retrieval
retroactive interference
Info learned after a specific memory interferes with its retrieval
Repression
A painful memory that has been forgotten as a defense mechanism
Misinformation effect
Creation of false memories by incorporating new erroneous info with an old memory
source monitoring error
When we cant recall where we learned a piece of info from
False fame effect
We attribute fame to a name since we cant remember where we have seen it before. Since we recognize the name it must be famous
Reality monitoring
Our ability to discriminate real memories from imagined ones
