Memory Key Terms

Question 1

Long term memory

Answer 1

Your memory for events that happened in the past, duration unlimited, capacity unlimited, encoding mostly semantic

Question 2

Duration

Answer 2

A measure of how long a memory lasts before it can no longer be recalled

Question 3

Short term memory

Answer 3

Your memory for immediate events. Very short duration, capacity of 7 +- 2, encoding is mostly acoustic

Question 4

Capacity

Answer 4

A measure of how much can be held in memory

Question 5

Encoding

Answer 5

The way information is stored so that it can be sorted in memory. E.g. Semantically, acoustically, or visually

Question 6

Chunking

Answer 6

Miller proposed that the capacity of STM can be enhanced by grouping sets if digits or letters into meaningful units or ‘chunks’

Question 7

Sensory memory

Answer 7

Information collected by the senses is retained for a very brief period. Capacity is unlimited, it is transferred to STM if attention is given

Question 8

Central executive

Answer 8

Monitors and coordinates all other mental functions in working memory

Question 9

Phonological loop

Answer 9

Encodes speech sounds in working memory, typically involving maintenance rehersal

Question 10

Visuo-spatial sketch pad

Answer 10

Encodes visual information in terms of separate objects as well as the arrangement of those objects in ones visual field

Question 11

Episodic buffer

Answer 11

Receives input from many sources, temporarily stores this information, and then integrates it in order to construct a mental episode of what is being experienced right now

Question 12

Word length effect

Answer 12

The observation that people remember lists of short words better than lists of long words

Question 13

Eye witness testimony

Answer 13

The evidence provided in court by a person who witnessed a crime, with a view to identifying the perpetrator of the crime

Question 14

Misleading information

Answer 14

A question that, either by its form or content, suggests to the witnesses what answer is desired or leads him to the desired answer

Question 15

Anxiety

Answer 15

A nervous emotional state where we fear that something unpleasant is about to happen. People often become anxious when they are in stressful situations. Anxiety tends to be accompanied by physiological arousal

Question 16

Own age bias

Answer 16

People are typically better at identifying faces that are if a perceived similar age to their own

Question 17

The weapons focus effect

Answer 17

The idea that during a crime, the witness may focus on more central details of the attack, such as the weapon, than on peripheral details