UNIT 5 (CH 7/11) Flashcards
the persistance of learning over time through the storage and retrieval of information
memory
the tendency for distributed study or practice to yeild better long-term retention that is achieved through massed study or practice
spacing effect
our tendency to recall best the last and first items in a list
serial position effect
the encoding of picture images
visual encoding
the encoding of sound, especially the sound of words
acoustic encoding
the encoding of meaning, including the meaning of words
semantic encoding
mental pictures; a powerful aid to effortful processing, especially when combined with semantic encoding
imagery
memory aids, especially those techniques that use vivid imagery and organizational devices
mnemonics
organizing items into familiar, manageable units; often occurs automatically
chunking
a momentary sensory memory of visual stimuli; a photographic or picture-image memory lasting no more that a few tenths of a second
iconic memory
a momentary sensory memory of auditory stimuli; if attention is elsewhere, sounds and words can still be recalled within 3-4 seconds
echoic memory
an increase in a synapse’s firing potential after a brief, rapid stimulation. Believed to be a neural basis for learning and memory
long-term potentiation (LTP)
retention independent of conscious recollection - IMpossible to remember
implicit memory
memory of facts and experiences that one can consciously know and “declare” - able to EXplain
explicit memory
a neural cneter that is located in the limbic system; helps process explicit memories for storage
hippocampus
the tendency to recall experiences that are consistent with one’s current good or bad mood
mood-congruent memory
the disruptive effect of prior learning on the recall of new information
proactive interference
the disruption effect of new learning on the recall of old information
retroactive interference
in psychoanalytic theory, the basic defense mechanism that banishes from consciousness anxiety-arousing thoughts, feelings, and memories
repression
incorporating misleading information into one’s memory of an event; at the heart of false memories
misinformation effect
attributing to the wrong source an event we have experienced, heard about, read about, or imagined; at the heart of false memories
source amnesia
the processing of information into the memory system
encoding
the retention of encoded information over time
storage
the process of getting information our of memory storage
retrieval
the immediate, very brief recording of sensory information in the memory system
sensory memory
activitated memory that holds a few items briefly, such as the seven digits of a phone number while dialing, before the information is stored or fargotten
short-term memory
the relatively permanent and limitless storehouse of the memory system, includes knowledge, skills and experiences
long-term memory
a newer understanding 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
working memory
the processing of many aspects of a problem simultaneously; the brain’s natural mose of information processing for many functions. Contrasts with the step-by-step (serial) processing of most computers and of conscious problem solving
parallel processing
unconscious encoding of incidental information, such as space, time, and frequency, and of well-learned information, such as word meaning
automatic processing
encoding that requires attention and conscious effort
effortful processing
the conscious repetition of information, either to maintain it in consciousness or to encode it for storage
rehearsal
a clear memory of an emotionally significant moment or event
flashbulb memory
the loss of memory
amnesia
a measure of memory in which the person must retrieve information learned earlier, as on a fill-in-the-blank test
recall
a measure of memory in which the person need only identify items previously learned, as on a multiple-choice test
recognition
a measure of memory that assesses the amount of time saved when learning material for a second time
relearning
the activation, often unconsciously, of particular associations in memory
priming
that eerie sense that “I’ve experienced this before.” Cues from the current situation may subconsciously trigger retrieval of an earlier experience
deja vu
a methodical, logical rule or procedure that guarantees solving a particular problem
algorithm
a simple thinking strategy that often allows us to make judgements and solve problems efficiently
heuristic
a sudden and often novel realization of the solution to a problem
insight
the ability to produce novel and valuable ideas
creativity
a tendency to search for information that supports our presonceptions and to ignore or distort contradictory evidence
confirmation bias