Memory Flashcards
information processing model
conceptual theory of the events that occur in the brain between taking in a sensory stimulus to making a long term memory
helps explain encoding, retrieval, and learning
sensory memory (sensory register)
short term storing of information taken in from the environment
includes iconic and echoic memory
iconic memory
short-term storage of information that is seen that lasts about half a second
echoic memory
short-term storage information that is heard that lasts about 3-4 seconds
working memory (short-term memory)
storage of about 5-9 pieces of information that are being processed in a given moment
visuospatial sketch pad
part of working memory that maintains visual information for manipulation
used for navigation and processing images
phonological loop
part of working memory involved in the processing of words and numbers
central executive (information processing model)
part of working memory that processes all information that is taken in and sends it to either the visuospatial loop or the phonological loop
episodic buffer
the part of working memory that combines and integrates the information from the visuospatial sketch pad and the phonological loop
long-term memory
unlimited storage of information that is retained for more than a few minutes
explicit (declarative) memory
long-term storage of information that can be consciously recalled, like knowing what you ate for dinner last night or remembering the meaning of a word
semantic memory
type of explicit memory that includes all knowledge not acquired through life events
stores general facts, word meanings, etc.
episodic memory
type of explicit memory that includes information on personal events and things that were experienced
ability to make this type of memory decreases over time
implicit (non-declarative memory)
long-term storage of information that cannot be consciously recalled, but can affect behavior or thoughts
procedural memory
type of implicit memory that includes information on completing tasks or performing behaviors
priming
the effect that a previously presented stimulus has on perception and response to another through subconscious guidance
encoding
the process of creating long-term memories from working memory
rote rehearsal
relatively ineffective encoding strategy that involves repeating the information over and over to memorize it
chunking
an encoding strategy that involves grouping items into familiar categories in order to better remember them
mnemonic devices
encoding strategies that involve linking the new information to information that has already been learned
imagery mnemonic
creating a visualization of the thing you are trying to remember
pegword mnemonic
way of remembering sequential information by linking the new information to a word that rhymes with or sounds like its number in the list
eg “bun” rhymes with one
method of loci mnemonic
a way of remembering sequential information by linking the new information to locations along a familiar route
acronym mnemonic
using each letter of a word to stand for a piece of new information
self referencing
encoding strategy that involves linking new information to yourself in some way
preparing to teach method of encoding
involves learning the new information in a way that could be explained to others
requires organizing and understanding the information
spacing
encoding strategy that involves spreading out study time to better remember information
retrieval
process of recalling information that has been stored in long-term memory
retrieval cues
stimuli that help with the accurate recall of information
context cues
stimuli in the environment where information is learned that can cause more accurate retrieval of the information
context dependent memory
memory that is recalled better when the environment of recall matches the environment of encoding
state dependent memory
memory that is recalled better when recalled while in a similar mood or set of internal conditions as were present during encoding
free recall
a memory task involves presenting a list of items, waiting some amount of time, and seeing what items can be remembered
primacy effect
fact that recall of the first few items in a list is often more accurate than for items in the middle
recency effect
recall of the last few items in a list is often more accurate than for items in the middle
serial position curve
graph that displays the probability of remembering items in a list based on their order in the list
higher for items at the beginning and end and low for items in the middle
serial position effect
probability of remembering items at beginning or end of a list is higher than in the middle
cued recall
memory task that involves presenting a list of items, waiting some amount of time, and seeing what items can be remembered when a hint such as the first few letters of a word or initials is given
recognition test
memory task that involves presenting a list of items, waiting some amount of time, and seeing if the participant can identify a previously said word from another list
reconstructive memory
idea that each time information is retrieved it is modified slightly due to mood, imagination, or beliefs
source monitoring error
memory mistake that results from difficulty separating where information came from
may entail believing you saw something you only heard about
flashbulb memory
highly emotional, vivid memory of an event
positively and negatively valenced memories
long-term potentiation
increase in synapse strength after repeated stimulation
method by which learning is thought to occur
synaptic plasticity
ability of neuronal connections to change in number or strength
synapse
gap between two neurons where neurotransmitters flow from one neuron to another
presynaptic neuron
neuron that has its axon terminal immediately prior to the synapse
neurotransmitters
chemical signals released from a neuron when it is stimulated
postsynaptic neuron
neuron that is found immediately after the synapse
takes in and responds to neurotransmitters released in the synapse
neuron potential
difference in electrical charge between the outside and inside of the neuron
synapse strength
level of change to the postysnaptic potential that occurs after presynaptic stimulation and neurotransmitter release
memory decay
the ability to recall information decreases over time
rate of forgetting
speed at which memory decays
differs little between people but can be influenced by sleep, stress, and psychological factors
Ebbinghaus’s Forgetting Curve
graph that tracks memory over time
usually has a drastic drop in accuracy over the first few days, and then flattens out over time
relearning
second time memorizing a list that takes less time to learn with equal accuracy
savings (memory)
small bit of information that is maintained even if the memory cannot be retrieved
it is what makes relearning occur faster
retroactive interference
acquisition of new information that impairs the ability to recall previously learned information
proactive interference
previously learned information that impairs the ability to learn and recall new information
crystallized intelligence
accumulation of knowledge through experience and the ability to use this knowledge
increases with age
emotional reasoning
ability to make sense of emotionally charged problems
increases with age
divided attention
concentration on multiple stimuli at one time
the ability to do this decreases with age
processing speed
rate at which mental tasks can be completed
decreases with age
dementia
disorder characterized by damage to brain tissue that causes excessive forgetting that interferes with a person’s life
Alzheimer’s Disease
condition characterized by the buildup of amyloid plaques and neuronal death
symptoms include memory loss, inability to encode new memories, attention difficulties, and impaired language abilities
Korsakoff’s Syndrome
type of dementia caused by a lack of thiamine (vitamin B1), which is often linked to alcoholism, eating disorders or malnutrition
symptoms include severe memory loss and confabulation
confabulation
making up stories or distorting stories without the intention of manipulation or deception
common symptom of Korsakoff’s Syndrome
Wernicke’s encephalopathy
reversible precursor to Korsakoff’s Syndrome with symptoms including poor balance, mild confusion, and memory loss
semantic networks
a representation of the organization of knowledge in the brain based on relatedness of concepts
can be modeled by showing each idea as a node and the distance and connections between the nodes represent how closely related the ideas are
hierarchical semantic network
representation of how knowledge is stored in the brain based on the idea that pieces of information are organized in the brain starting with broad categories and progressively get more specific
modified semantic network
representation of how knowledge is stored in the brain based on the idea that pieces of information are not stored hierarchically but rather in a way that makes sense based on the person’s individual experiences and knowledge
principle of cognitive economy
idea that the brain stores information in effective, simple schemes
spreading activation
process by which recalling one piece of information makes other related concepts more accessible for retrieval
