Module 3A Memory Flashcards
Memory
set of processes used to encode, store, and retrieve information over different periods of time
encoding
input of information into the memory system
storage
creation of a permanent record of information
retrieval
act of getting information out of long-term memory storage and back into conscious awareness
Atkinson-Shiffrin model
memory model that states we process information through three systems: sensory
memory, short-term memory, and long-term memory
sensory memory
storage of brief sensory events, such as sights, sounds, and tastes
short-term memory (STM)
holds about seven bits of information before it is forgotten or stored, as well as
information that has been retrieved and is being used
long-term memory (LTM)
continuous storage of information
explicit memory
memories we consciously try to remember and recall
implicit memory
memories that are not part of our consciousness
effortful processing
encoding of information that takes effort and attention
automatic processing
encoding of informational details like time, space, frequency, and the meaning of
words
chunking
organizing information into manageable bits or chunks
mnemonic device
memory aids that help organize information for encoding
semantic memory
type of declarative memory about words, concepts, and language-based knowledge and
facts
episodic memory
type of declarative memory that contains information about events we have personally
experienced, also known as autobiographical memory
procedural memory
type of long-term memory for making skilled actions, such as how to brush your teeth,
how to drive a car, and how to swim
forgetting
loss of information from long-term memory
absentmindedness
lapses in memory that are caused by breaks in attention or our focus being somewhere
else
flashbulb memory
exceptionally clear recollection of an important event
misinformation effect paradigm
after exposure to additional and possibly inaccurate information, a person
may misremember the original event
cerebellum
hindbrain structure that controls our balance, coordination, movement, and motor skills, and it is
thought to be important in processing some types of memory
hippocampus
structure in the temporal lobe associated with learning and memory
prefrontal cortex
area in the frontal lobe responsible for higher-level cognitive functioning
