Unit 6: Cognition

Question 1

working memory

Answer 1

a newer understanding of short term memory that focuses on consciousness and retrieval from long term memory

Question 2

explicit memory

Answer 2

facts and experiences (declarative memory)

Question 3

implicit memory

Answer 3

retention independent of conscious recollection (nondeclarative memory)

Question 4

iconic memory

Answer 4

momentary sensory memory of visual stimuli

Question 5

echoic memory

Answer 5

momentary sensory memory of auditory stimuli

Question 6

semantic memory

Answer 6

common knowledge

Question 7

procedural memory

Answer 7

aids performance of tasks

Question 8

episodic memory

Answer 8

recollection of events

Question 9

spatial memory

Answer 9

information about the environment

Question 10

parallel processing

Answer 10

the processing of many aspects of a problem simultaneously

Question 11

effortful processing

Answer 11

encoding that requires attention/conscious effort

Question 12

automatic processing

Answer 12

the unconscious encoding of identical information such as space, time and frequency of well-learned words and meanings

Question 13

shallow processing

Answer 13

encoding on a basic level based on the structure or appearance of words

Question 14

deep processing

Answer 14

encoding semantically, based on the meaning of words; tends to yield best retention

Question 15

encoding

Answer 15

processing of information into the memory system by extracting the meaning

Question 16

storage

Answer 16

process of retaining encoded information

Question 17

retrieval

Answer 17

process of getting information out of memory storage

Question 18

chunking

Answer 18

organizing items into familiar, manageable units; often occurs automatically

Question 19

spacing effect

Answer 19

tendency for distributed study or practice to yield better long-term retention than is achieved through massed practice

Question 20

testing effect

Answer 20

enhanced memory after retrieving, rather than simply rereading information

Question 21

schema theory

Answer 21

we have thought patterns that categorize information in our brains

Question 22

anterograde amnesia

Answer 22

a person is not able to create new memories after a traumatic event

Question 23

retrograde amnesia

Answer 23

a person is not able to remember events after something traumatic has occurred

Question 24

proactive interference

Answer 24

old learning disrupts the learning of new information

Question 25

retroactive interference

Answer 25

new information disrupts the recalling of old information

Question 26

repression

Answer 26

excluding stressful memories or thoughts from our conscious minds

Question 27

decay

Answer 27

long term memories fade over time

Question 28

prototype

Answer 28

an example of something within a category that our brains have chosen for us

Question 29

convergent thinking

Answer 29

a type of thinking that narrows down all of the possibilities to find the best one

Question 30

divergent thinking

Answer 30

thinking of as many solutions to a problem as possible

Question 31

representative heuristic

Answer 31

bias; stereotype; categorizing a situation based on a previous experience

Question 32

availability heuristic

Answer 32

mental shortcut; make judgements about probability based on the speed of examples in your mind

Question 33

anchoring bias

Answer 33

expectations prevent us from accepting new information

Question 34

algorithm

Answer 34

using all possible solutions to get a correct response

Question 35

confirmation bias

Answer 35

interpreting new information as confirmation for your beliefs