Chapter 9 - Memory Vocab
memory: the ability to store and use information; also the store of what has been learned
and remembered
three-stage model of memory: classification of memories based on duration as sensory,
short-term, and long-term
sensory memory: the part of memory that holds information in its original sensory form for
a very brief period of time, usually about 1/2 a second or less.
short-term memory: the part of memory that temporarily (2-30 seconds) stores a limited
amount of information before it is either transferred to long-term storage or forgotten
long-term memory: the part of memory that has the capacity to store a vast amount of
information for as little as 30 seconds and as long as a lifetime
iconic memory: a brief visual record left on the retina of the eye (type of sensory memory)
echoic memory: short-term retention of sounds. (type of sensory memory).
working memory: the part of memory required to attend to and solve a problem at hand;
often used interchangeably with short-term memory
chunking: the process of breaking down a list of items to be remembered into a smaller set
of meaningful units (9523684994 vs. 952-368-4994)
rehearsal: the process of repeatedly practicing material so that it enters long-term memory
serial position effect: the tendency to have better recall for items in a list according to their
position in the list
implicit memory: kind of memory made up of knowledge based on previous experience,
such as skills that we perform automatically once we have mastered them; resides outside
conscious awareness.
procedural memory: kind of memory made up of implicit knowledge for almost any
behavior or physical skill we have learned. (play golf, ride a bike, tie a shoe)
priming: a kind of implicit memory that arises when recall is improved by earlier exposure
to the same or similar stimuli
explicit memory: knowledge that consist of the conscious recall of facts and events; also
known as declarative memory.
semantic memory: form of memory that recalls facts and general knowledge, such as what
we learn in school
episodic memory: form of memory that recalls the experiences we have had
encoding: the process by which the brain attends to, takes in, and integrates new
information; the first stage of long-term memory formation.
automatic processing: encoding of information that occurs with little effort or conscious
attention to the task. (remembering what you had for breakfast, involves episodic memory)
effortful processing: encoding of information that occurs with careful of attention and
conscious effort. (like what you learn in college, basis of semantic memory)
levels of processing: the concept that the more deeply people encode information, the
better they will recall it.
mnemonic devise: a method devised to help remember information, such as a rhyme or
acronym
storage: the retention of memory over time; the third stage of long-term memory formation
hierarchies: a way of organizing related pieces of information from the most specific
feature they have in common to the most general.
consolidation: the process of establishing, stabilizing, or solidifying a memory; the second
stage of long-term memory formation.
schemas: mental frameworks that develop from our experiences with particular people,
objects, or events.
retrieval: the recovery of information stored in memory; the fourth stage of long-term
memory
prefrontal cortex: the front-most region of the frontal lobes that plays an important role in
attention, appropriate social behavior, impulse control, and working memory.
long-term potentiation: strengthening of a synaptic connection that results when synapse
of one neuron repeatedly fires and excited another neuron.
retroactive interference: disruption of memory because new experiences or information
cause people to forget previously learned experiences or information
interference: disruption of memory because other information competes with the
information we are trying to recall
proactive interference: disruption of memory because previously learned information
interferes with the learning of new information
forgetting: the weakening or loss of memories over time.
transience: most common type of forgetfulness due to the fleeting nature of some
memories
forgetting curve: a graphic depiction of how recall steadily declines over time.
blocking: the inability to retrieve some information once it is stored
repression: a form of blocking, in which retrieval of memories that have been encoded and
stored is actively inhibited. (tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon)
absent-mindedness: a form of forgetfulness that results from inattention
misattribution: belief that a memory came from one source when in fact it came from
another
consistency bias: selective recall of past events to fit our current beliefs.
persistence: the repeated recall of pleasant or unpleasant experiences even when we
actively try to forget them.
suggestibility: problem with memory that occurs when memories are implanted in our
minds based on leading questions, comments, or suggestions by someone else or some
other source.
false memories: memories for events that never happened, but were suggested by
someone or something
recovered memory: a memory from a real event that was encoded, stored, but not
retrieved for a long period of time until some later event brings it suddenly into
consciousness
amnesia: memory loss due to brain injury or disease
anterograde amnesia: the inability to remember events and experiences that occur after
an injury or the onset of a disease
retrograde amnesia: an inability to recall events or experiences that happened before the
onset of a disease or injury