memory Flashcards
what is memory?
process by which we retain information about events that have happened in the past. it involves 3 processes: encoding, storage and retrieval
what is encoding/coding?
information taken into the brain is changed into a form that can be stored and later recalled. (there are 5 types)
what is visual encoding?
remembering something by what it looks like
what is acoustic encoding?
remembering something by what is sounds like
what is semantic encoding?
remembering something by its meaning
what is tactile encoding?
remembering something by what it feels like/touching
what is olfactory encoding?
remembering something by what it smells like
what is storage?
where information is held in the memory system for use at some point in the future
what is retrieval?
when we need information- it is located and brought back
what are the 3 types of retrieval?
recognition, cued recall and free recall
what is episodic memory?
recollections of personal experiences or events- are time stamped. you need to continuously recall these memories. (associated with the right prefrontal cortex)
what is semantic memory?
recollection of general knowledge- not time stamped.
IS DECLARATIVE
what is procedural memory?
stored knowledge and information that we use for carrying out complex motor skills. uses ‘muscle memory’ so is hard to explain, don’t need to consciously think about how to do these skills. (associated with the motor cortex and cerebellum)
IS NON-DECLARATIVE
what is short-term memory?
has a limited capacity and can hold 7 (+ or -2)- referred to as ‘the magic 7’. has a limited duration between 15-30 seconds without rehearsal. tends to use acoustic coding
what is long-term memory?
has a potentially unlimited capacity and has potential to last for up to a lifetime. tends to use semantic coding
what is declarative memory?
memories that require conscious recall
what is non-declarative memory?
memories that don’t require conscious recall
what is recognition?
noticing information that you have seen before (e.g. you see someone and can identify who they are because you have met before)
what is cued recall?
remembering something because something ‘jogged’ your memory
what is the serial position effect?
recall of a list of words in which the words at both the beginning and end of the list are well recalled but those in the middle aren’t recalled well. this effect demonstrates that the likelihood of recall of a word depends on its position in a list of words
what is culture?
a community of people who share the same customs, beliefs and behaviours
what is reconstructive memory?
changing or filling in gaps in our recollection of experiences or information so that it makes more sense to us
what is the primacy effect?
when more of the first information received is recalled than information in the middle
what is the recency effect?
when more of the last information received is recalled that information in the middle
what is effort after meaning?
people recalled the general point not the specific details then try to interpret the event afterwards
what is interference?
forgetting information because other memories get in the way, this is especially likely to occur if two memories are very alike
what is context?
the surroundings for an event, thought or memory which enable these things to be more fully understood and may act as a cue to recall. context can be body state (e.g moods), smells, environment (e.g rooms) etc
what is proactive interference?
past learned information prevent recall of new learned information
what is retroactive interference?
newly learned information prevent recall of previously learned information
