psych chapter 6 Flashcards
memory
mental processes that enable you to retain and retrieve info over time
process of memory
encoding
storage
retrieval
encoding
code& put into memory
visual code- remembering as a picture
acoustic- remembering as sounds
semantic- remembering in terms of meaning
storage
maintaining info over time
maintenance rehearsal - mentally repeat
elaborative rehearal- elaborating or extending semantic meaning
retrieval
locating stored info and returning it to consciousness
stage model of memory
sensory memory
short-term memory
long-term memory
sensory memory
registers info from the environment and holds it for a brief moment
visual icons- only last a fraction of a second
echoic memory- hearing lasts longer than visual
short-term memory
active stage where memory is stored for up to 20 secs
chunking 7 items
serial-position effect
limited capacity up to about 7 items
serial position effect
tendency to recall first and last items in a series
long-term memory
relatively permanent memory
unlimited capacity
info lost but never delted
maintenance rehearsal
mental or verbal repetition of info in order to maintain it beyond the usual 20 secs duration of short-term memory
elaborative rehearsal
rehearsal that involves focusing on the meaning of information to help encode and transfer it to long-term memory
relate info to other info already known
Braddeley’s model of working memory
visuospatial sketchpad-spacial or visual material (remembering layout of room or city)
phonological loop-verbal material (list of # and words)
central executive- controls attention, integrates info, nd manages activities of phonological loop & visuospatial sketchpad
retrospective
part of long-term
things previously learned
1. explicit
2. implicit
explicit memory
declarative memory
memory with conscious recall
1.semantic- facts, general knowledge (names
2. episodic- personally experienced events
implicit
non declarative
how to do things, implied by doing, habits last for year, can be automatic (classical conditioning)
1. procedural- motor & cognitive skill
2. disposition- classical & operant conditioning
prospective memory
remembering things to do in the future
includes habits, event based task, times based
memory fails bc moods and attitude
as we age we see a decline in both types of memory
retrieval
process of accessing stored info
retrieval cue
a clue, prompt, or hint that helps trigger recall of a given piece of information in long-term memory
retrieval cue failure
the inability to recall long-term memories because of inadequate or missing retrieval cue
tip of the tongue experience
inability to to get at a bit info that you’re absolutely certain is stored in your memory
recall
retrieving info without the use of retrieval cues
cued recall
remembering an item of info in response to a retrieval cues
recognition
identifying correct info out of several possible choices
encoding specificity principle
principle that when the conditions of info retrieval are similar to the conditions of info encoding, retrieval is more likely to be succesful
context effect
tendency to recover info more easily when the retrieval occurs in the same setting as original learning of info
flashbulb memories
recall of very specific images or details surrounding a vivid rare or significant personal event
details may or may not be accurate
forgetting
inability to recall information that was previously available
why do we forget
encoding failure
decay theory
interference theory
motivated forgetting
encoding failure
inability to recall specific info bc of insufficient encoding of the info for storage in long-term memory
never encoding the info into long-term memory
decay theory
we forget memories bc we dont use them and they fade away over time as a matter of normal brain processes
interference theory
forgetting is caused by one memory competing with or replacing another
two types of interference
retroactive interference
proactive interference
retroactive interference
when a new memory interferes with remembering an old memory
proactive interference
when an old memory interferes with remembering a new memory
motivated forgetting
idea that we forget bc we are motivated to forget
usually bc a memory is unpleasant or disurbing
suppression and repression
suppression
motivated forgetting that occurs consciously
repression
motivated forgetting that occurs unconsciously
misinformation effect
memory distortion phenomenon in which a person’s existing memories can be altered if the person is exposed to misleading info
source confusion
memory distortion that occurs when the true source of the memory is forgotten
false memory
distorted or fabricated recollection of something that did not actually occur
schemas
organized cluster of info about a particular topic
scripts
schema for the typical sequence of an everyday event
schemas& scripts and false memories
schemas can cause memory errors by prompting us to fill in missing details with schema consistent info
imagination inflation
memory phenomenon in which vividly imagining an event markedly increases confidence that the event actually occurred
memory consolidation
the gradual physical process of converting new long-term memories stable enduring memory codes
retrograde amnesia
loss of memory especially for episodic information
anterograde amnesia
loss of memory caused by the inability to store new memories
alzheimer’s disease
progressive disease that destroys the brains neurons gradually impairing memory, thinking, language, and other cognitive functions, resulting in the complete inability to care for oneself
ways to improve memory
space study sessions sleep on it to help consolidate those memories focus your attention commit the necessary time organize the info elaborate on the material use visual imagery explain it to a friend reduce interference within a topic
