Psych ch. 8 Flashcards
encoding
the processing of informa- tion into the memory system—for exam- ple, by extracting meaning.
storage
the retention of encoded information over time.
retrieval
the process of getting information out of memory storage.
sensory memory
the immediate, very brief recording of sensory information in the memory system.
short-term memory
activated memo- ry that holds a few items briefly, such as the seven digits of a phone number while dialing, before the information is stored or forgotten.
long-term memory
the relatively per- manent and limitless storehouse of the memory system. Includes knowledge, skills, and experiences.
working memory
a newer under- standing of short-term memory that focuses on conscious, active processing of incoming auditory and visual-spatial information, and of information retrieved from long-term memory.
automatic processing
unconscious encoding of incidental information, such as space, time, and frequency, and of well-learned information, such as word meanings.
effortful processing
encoding that requires attention and conscious effort.
rehearsal
the conscious repetition of information, either to maintain it in con- sciousness or to encode it for storage.
spacing effect
the tendency for dis- tributed study or practice to yield better long-term retention than is achieved through massed study or practice.
serial position effect
recall best the last and first items in a list
visual encoding
the encoding of pic- ture images.
acoustic encoding
the encoding of sound, especially the sound of words.
semantic encoding
the encoding of meaning, including the meaning of words.
imagery
mental pictures; a powerful aid to effortful processing, especially when combined with semantic encoding.
mnemonics
memory aids, especially those techniques that use vivid imagery and organizational devices.
chunking
organizing items into famil- iar, manageable units; often occurs automatically.
iconic memory
a momentary sensory memory of visual stimuli; a photographic or picture-image memory lasting no more than a few tenths of a second.
echoic memory
a momentary sensory memory of auditory stimuli; if attention is elsewhere, sounds and words can still be recalled within 3 or 4 seconds.
long-term potentiation (LTP)
an increase in a synapse’s firing potential after brief, rapid stimulation. Believed to be a neural basis for learning and memory.
flashbulb memory
a clear memory of an emotionally significant moment or event.
amnesia
the loss of memory.
implicit memory
retention indepen- dent of conscious recollection. (Also called nondeclarative memory.)
explicit memory
memory of facts and experiences that one can conscious- ly know and “declare.” (Also called declarative memory.)
hippocampus
a neural center that is located in the limbic system; helps process explicit memories for storage.
recall
a measure of memory in which the person must retrieve information learned earlier, as on a fill-in-the-blank test.
recognition
a measure of memory in which the person need only identify items previously learned, as on a multiple-choice test.
relearning
a measure of memory that assesses the amount of time saved when learning material for a second time.
priming
the activation, often unconsciously, of particular associations in memory.
déjà vu
that eerie sense that “I’ve experienced this before.” Cues from the current situation may subconsciously trigger retrieval of an earlier experience.
mood-congruent memory
he tendency to recall experiences that are consistent with one’s current good or bad mood.
proactive interference
the disruptive effect of prior learning on the recall of new information.
retroactive interference
he disrup- tive effect of new learning on the recall of old information.
repression
in psychoanalytic theory, the basic defense mechanism that banishes from consciousness anxiety- arousing thoughts, feelings, and memories.
misinformation effect
incorporating misleading information into one’s mem- ory of an event.
source amnesia
attributing to the wrong source an event we have experi- enced, heard about, read about, or imagined. (Also called source misattri- bution.) Source amnesia, along with the misinformation effect, is at the heart of many false memories.
