Memory - How does your memory work? Flashcards
Unit 2
Processing
The operations we perform on sensory information in the brain.
Input
For human memory, this refers to the sensory information we receive from our environment.
Storage
The retention of information into our memory system.
Encoding
Turning sensory information into a form that can be used and stored by the brain.
Acoustic encoding
The process of storing sound in our memory system.
Visual encoding
The process of storing something that is seen in our memory system.
Semantic encoding
The process of storing the meaning of information in our memory system, rather than the sound of a word, we store the definition/meaning of that word.
Output
For memory, this refers to the information we recall; in a broader sense, output can refer to behavioural response.
Retrieval
The recall of stored memory.
Short-term memory (STM)
Our initial memory store that is temporary and limited.
Long-term memory (LTM)
A memory store that holds potentially limitless amounts of information for up to a lifetime.
Duration
The length of time information can be stored in short-term and long-term memory.
Capacity
The amount of information that can be stored in short-term memory.
Reherse
When we repeat information over and over again to make it stick.
Displacement
When short-term memory becomes “full”and new information pushes out older information.
Interference
When new information overwrites older information.
E.g. When a new phone number takes the place of an old number in your memory.
Amnesia
Memory loss, often through accident, disease or injury.
Anterograde amnesia
A memory condition that means new long-term memories cannot be made; this is typically caused by injury to the brain.
Retrograde amnesia
A memory condition that affects recall of memories prior to and injury to the brain.
Active reconstruction
Memory is not an exact copy of what we experienced, but an interpretation or reconstruction of events that are influenced by our schema (expectation) when we remember them again.
Schema (memory)
A packet of knowledge about an event, person or place that influences how we perceive and remember.
Omission
When we leave out unfamiliar, irrelevant or unpleasant details when remembering something.
Transformation
When details are changed to make them more familiar and rational.
Familiarisation
When unfamiliar details are changed to align with our own schema.
