Glossary
Chapter 6
(TOT)
phenomenon
information that is better retrieved in the context in which it was encoded and
stored, or learned
anterograde
amnesia
failure to remember events that occurred after physical trauma because of the
effects of the trauma
chunk
a stimulus or group of stimuli that are perceived as a discrete piece of
information
contextdependent
memory
information that is better retrieved in the physiological or emotional state in
which it was encoded and stored, or learned
displace
in memory theory, to cause information to be lost from short-term memory by
adding new information
dissociative
amnesia
loss of memory of personal information that is thought to stem from
psychological conflict or trauma
echo
a mental representation of an auditory stimulus (sound) that is held briefly in
sensory memory
echoic memory the sensory register that briefly holds mental representations of auditory stimuli
eidetic imagery the maintenance of detailed visual memories over several minutes
elaborative
rehearsal
the kind of coding in which new information is related to information that is
already known
encoding
modifying information so that it can be placed in memory; the first stage of
information processing
engram
an assumed electrical circuit in the brain that corresponds to a memory trace
episodic
memory
memories of events that happen to a person or that take place in the person's
presence
explicit
memory
memory that clearly and distinctly expresses (explicates)specific information
hippocampus
a structure in the limbic system that plays an important role in the formation of
new memories
icon
a mental representation of visual stimulus that is held briefly in sensory memory
iconic memory the sensory register that briefly holds mental representations of visual stimuli
implicit
memory
memory that is suggested (implied) but not plainly expressed, as illustrated in
the things that people do but do not state clearly
infantile
amnesia
inability to recall events that occur prior to the age of 3 or so; also termed
childhood amnesia
interference
theory
the view that we may forget stored material because other learning interferes
with it
long-term
memory
the type or stage of memory capable of relatively permanent storage
long-term
potentiation
(LTP )
enhanced efficiency in synaptic transmission that follows brief, rapid stimulation
maintenance
rehearsal mental repetition of information to keep it in memory
memory
the processes by which information is encoded, stored, and retrieved
memory trace
an assumed change in the nervous system that reflects the impression made by
a stimulus
method of
savings
a measure of retention in which the difference between the number of
repetitions originally required to learn a list and the number of repetitions
required to relearn the list after a certain amount of time has elapsed is
calculated
misinformation The shaping of bogus or slanted memories by providing inaccurate information
effect
as, for example, in the form of “leading questions.”
nonsense
syllables
meaningless sets of two consonants, with a vowel sandwiched in between, that
are used to study memory
paired
associates
nonsense syllables presented in pairs in experiments that measure recall
priming
the activation of specific associations in memory, often as a result of repetition
and without making a conscious effort to access the memory
proactive
interference
the interference by old learning with the ability to retrieve material learned
recently
prospective
memory
memory to perform an act in the future, as at a certain time or when a certain
event occurs
repression
in Freud’s psychodynamic theory, the ejection of anxiety-evoking ideas from
conscious awareness
retrieval
the location of stored information and its return to consciousness; the third
stage of information processing
retroactive
interference
the interference of new learning with the ability to retrieve material learned
previously
retrograde
amnesia
failure to remember events that occurred prior to physical trauma because of
the effects of the trauma
retrospective
memory
memory for past events, activities, and learning experiences, as shown by
explicit (episodic and semantic) and implicit memories
savings
the difference between the number of repetitions originally required to learn a
list and the number of repetitions required to relearn the list after a certain
amount of time has elapsed
schema
a way of mentally representing the world, such as a belief or an expectation,
that can influence perception of persons, objects, and situations
semantic
memory
general knowledge, as opposed to episodic memory
sensory
the type or stage of memory first encountered by a stimulus; sensory memory
memory
holds impressions briefly, but long enough so that series of perceptions are
psychologically continuous stimulus
serial-position
effect
the tendency to recall more accurately the first and last items in a series
short-term
memory
the type or stage of memory that can hold information for up to a minute or so
after the trace of the stimulus decays; also called working memory
storage
the maintenance of information over time; the second stage of information
processing
tip-of-thetongue
the feeling that information is stored in memory although it cannot be readily
retrieved; also called the feeling-of-knowing experience
working
memory
another term for short-term memory