Module 8: Memory Flashcards
Memory
storage and retrieval of information
Search metaphor
A way of describing processes involved in memory using terms and phrases that relate them to around in physical or virtual space
Failure of search
The way that an inability to remember something is often described
Reconstruction metaphor
describes how we primarily use memory to formulate a useful response using both what we known and the surrounding situation
Encoding
The process of how information is initially learned
Encoding problem
The problem the brain must solve to transform an experience into a memory
storage
The process of maintaining information about an event over time weather short or long
Storage problem
The problem the brain must solve to maintain information in the brain over time short or long
Sensory memory
The system that keeps information translated by the senses briefly in unaltered form, allowing us to perceive the world as whole rather than staggered
iconic memory
fleeting after images in visual system
echoic memory
echoes that last a few seconds after auditory signals… sometimes allowing you to recall end of conversation you were not paying attention too
immediate memory
A system that actively holds on to a limited amount of information so that it can be manipulated and processed
3 properties of immediate memory
representation, duration, and capacity
representation
The kind of information a memory system contains. often this described in terms of how the information is represented of coded
inner voice
The mental experience of hearing yourself talk in your head - evidence for verbal representation in immediate memory
inner eye
The mental experience of seeing something using your imagination - evidence for visual representation in immediate memory
Rehearsal
The process of repeating information to yourself, helping you rehear the information over again
Duration
How long a memory system can contain information before its forgotten, duration is indefinite with rehearsal but without rehearsal is only three seconds or so
Capacity
How much information can be held in a memory system at any one time, capacity is consider to whatever you can rehearse in around 2 seconds
Range of information a person can hold in mind at any given time
7 plus/minus 2 (5-9)
memory span
The number of items that can be kept active in immediate memory at one time
Chunking
process of arranging information into compact meaningful chunks so that they can be more easily rehearsed in immediate memory
Working memory model
A model of immediate memory that emphasizes its role as a system for manipulating information in consciousness
phonological loop
A system within the working memory model that temporarily stores and manipulates auditory and verbal information
visuospatial sketchpad
A system within the working memory model where visual and spatial information is stored and manipulated
Central Executive
Hypothetical portion of the working memory that directs the activities of working memory and flow of information between working and long term memory
Long term memory
Memory system used to store and recall information over extended periods of time (indefinite split into subsections)
episodic memories
Memories whose contents pertain to specific event’s
Semantic memories
Memories whose contents relate to specific facts and pieces of meaningful information not based on personal experience
procedural memory
Memories whose contents pertain to how something is done, such as motor skill involved in walking and riding bike
elaborative rehearsal
Process of actively manipulating information in immediate memory to meaningfully connect it to other information already stored in LTM
Deep processing
encoding new information through making meaningful connections to existing knowledge
Shallow processing
Encoding information based only on its surface characteristics
massed practice
Massed practice is the term for repeated exposure to or study of to be remembered information over very short time without gaps between repetitions
spacing effects
observation that learning is most robust when repeated exposure information study material occurs over longer timeframe
mnemonics
Techniques used to improve memory that provide framework for encoding and recall
adaptive memory
A subfield of memory research focused on investigating how the brain is designed to learn and remember given evolutionary considerations
retrieval practice
The phenomenon that the repeated retrieval of information is more useful for long term memory than other tasks such as the repeated reading of the same information
retrieval problem
The problem the brain must solve to recover information from long term memory
cues
Information that help us remember events from the past
free recall
remembering previously learned info without any other context to aid in remembering
cued recall
remembering previously learned info with the aid of clue or information that helps provide context
encoding specificity principle
idea that retrieval cues are only useful as long as they match the original context of how the to be remembered information was originally learned
transfer appropriate processing
observation that engaging in similar processes at both encoding and retrieval tends to enhance recall
explicit memory
remembering that occurs consciously and with intent
implicit memory
remembering that occurs without conscious realization or intent
errors of omission
memory errors where info cannot be brough to mind
errors of commission
memory errors where wrong or unwanted info is brough to mind
transience
describes how memory for any particular event tends to degrade over time some say caused by lack of cues
decay
theory that memories fade away due to passage of time alone
retroactive interference
inability to retrieve older info due to influence of newer similar info
proactive interference
inability to retrieve newer info de to influence of older similar info
absent mindedness
a description of how memories sometimes are simply unavailable because of failure to encode them
blocking
a description for how in some cases not enough distinctive cues are available to help us recover a specific memory
example of absent mindedness
not paying attention to putting keys down and forgetting where you placed them
Tip of tongue state (TOT)
state when people cannot remember a piece of info but have powerful feeling they know what is tying to be remembered
deja vu
description of a feeling that one has already experienced something
flashbulb memories
memories for the details surrounding events that are both surprising and particularly significant
suggestibility
description for how memories can sometimes be altered by context in which they are remembered to better fit the current context
misinformation effect
a phenomenon in which misleading information alters subsequent memory
bias
a description of how memories can change as a result of the influence of knowledge and beliefs
schemas
a highly organized knowledge structure that contains many pieces of specific information
persistence
occasional reoccurrence of unwanted memories examples include PTSD triggers result in unwanted memories etc
hyperthymesia
an exceptionally rare medical condition that leads to near perfect autobiographical recall
amnesia
memory loss due to physical damage or problems in brain
retrograde amnesia
loss of memories prior to specific traumatic event such as blow to the had or certain other conditions
anterograde amnesia
inability to make new memories
short term memory
Short term memory to humans is what RAM is to a computer allows us to live moment to moment
Memory consolidation
Defined as a time-dependent process by which recent learned experiences are transformed into long-term memory
