Psychology Unit 5 Part I Flashcards
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 identifies items previous learned as on a multiple choice test
Relearning
A measure of memory that asses the amount of time saved when learning material again
Hermann Ebbinghaus
Showed how repetition of speaking aloud a random letter list decreased the amount of time it took to recall the list the next day
Overlearning
Rehearsing information even after you know it to retain it longer
Multiple Choice Questions test
recognition
Fill in the black test
recalling
Tests of recognition and of time spent relearning demonstrates that we
remember more than we can recall
Encoding
The process of getting information into the memory system - ex. extracting meaning
Storage
The process of retaining encoded information over time
Retrieval
The process of getting information out of memory storage
Parallel Processing
Processing many aspects of a problem simultaneously; the brain’s natural mode of information processing for many functions
sensory memory
The immediate, very brief recording of sensory information in the memory system
Short-term memory
activated memory that holds a few items briefly, such as digits of a phone number while calling, before the information is stored or forgotten
Long-term memory
The relatively permanent and limitless storehouse of the memory system. Includes knowledge, skills, and experiences.
Working memory
A newer understanding of short-term memory that adds conscious active processing of incoming auditory and visual information and of information retrieved form long-term memory
Fill out the information-processing model
You better actually do it
Pros and Cons to brain = computer analogy
Pros:
- Encode, storage, retrieval
- Information-Processing model
Cons:
- Brains are more fragile
- Computers process subsequentially and/or alternating tasks
- Brains can process simultaneously (and sometimes unconsciously) with parallel processing
Connectionism
Idea that memory is a product of interconnected neural networks
- specific memories come from certain activation patterns within networks
- New knowledge changes connections
Richard Atkinson and Richard Shiffrin Three-Step Model
- Sensory memory: Records fleeting information that is soon-to-be-remembered
- Process information to short-term memory. Then encode with rehearsal
- Moves to long-term memory for later retrieval
Draw a Ebbinghaus retention curve
Will do
Cognition
All activities involved with thinking, knowing, remembering, and communicating something
Memory
The acquisition (encoding), storage, and retrieval of learned information.
Why is memory divided into three steps?
Because it can break at any one of them
What is the difference threshold between short to long term memory?
60 seconds
__________ revised ___________ and __________ idea of short-term memory
Alan Baddeley, Richard Atkinson, Richard Shiffrin
What are the two basic functions of working memory?
To make sense of new input and linking it to long-term memories
Describe Alan Baddeley’s model of working memory
The central executive focuses attention from auditory rehearsal and visual-spatial information and either links long-term memory to make sense of it, or turns the input into long-term memory
Explicit Memories aka declarative memory
Retention of facts and experiences that one can consciously know and “declare”
Effortful Processing
Encoding that requires attention and conscious effort
Where are explicit memories built and stored? How is it done?
In the frontal lobe and hippocampus and is done by effortful processing
Implicit Memory aka nondeclarative memory
Largely skips working memory. Retention of learned skills or classically conditioned associations independent of conscious recollection
Where is implicit memories associated with and how are they made?
Cerebellum, automatic processing
Why can you know how to walk before you read?
Infants don’t have a developed frontal lobe to store explicit memory, but they have a cerebellum.
Example of procedural memory (implicit memory)
How to ride a bike
Example of classically conditions associations among stimuli (implicit memory)
Having an instant fear reaction to dogs without recalling the time you were bit by a dog as a kid
Effortful processing can become
automatic. Like learning to read in a new language and slowly become more fluent.
Automatic Processing
Unconscious encoding of incidental information, such as space, time, and frequency and of well-learned information, such as word meanings
Iconic Memory
A momentary sensory memory of visual stimuli; a picture-image memory lasting more 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
Two types of sensory memory
Iconic and echoic
George Sperling
Flashed nine letters for a split of a second. People could not recall all nine at once. But they could recall each specific row
Who proposed how many “units” of information we can store in short-term memory? How many units?
George Miller, 7 (+/- 2)
What decreases the life span of short-term processing
The lack of active processing (aka isolated focus)
Effortful Processing Strategies
- Chunking: Breaking things into units (like 7)
- Linking: Relating it to other memorized information
- Mnemonics: Organization and visualization
- Hierarchies: Broad umbrella terms and subdivisions
177620012023
1776 2001 2023
Chunking
Organizing items into familiar, manageable units; often occurs automatically
Mnemonics
Memory aids, especially those techniques that use vivid imaginary and organizational devices.
Types of Mnemonics
Peg-Word System: Plug into something you know
Rhythmic
Method of Loci: Inventing vivid mental stories
You can combine all three
Spacing Effect
The tendency for distributed study or practice to yield better long-term retention than is achieve through massed
30 mins 3 times a week working out vs. 6 hours once
Testing effect
Enhanced memory after retrieving, rather than simply rereading, information. Also sometimes referred to as a retrieval practice effect or test-enhanced learning
Shallow processing
Encoding on a basic level, based on the structure or appearance of words
Deep processing
Encoding semantically, based on the meaning of the words; tends to yield the best retention
Self-reference effect
The tendency to recall information when it relates to ourselves rather than others
How does the brain NOT store memories (how does it actually)
NOT: Discrete single locations. You can remove any part of a mouse’s cortex and it’ll know the maze pathway at least partially
Rather through connected brain networks
Semantic Memory
Explicit memory of facts and general knowledge; one of our two conscious memory systems
Episodic Memory
Explicit memory of personally experienced events; one of our two conscious memory systems
