AP Psych Memory Vocab 2022

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Memory

Memory

the persistence of learning over time through the storage and retrieval of information

Retention

evidence that memory has persisted over time

The three stages of retention:

recall, recognition, relearning

Recall

retrieving information that is not in conscious awareness (fill in the blank)

Recognition

identifying previous learned information (like multiple choice)

Relearning

learning something quicker the second time than the first (studying)

Encoding

the processing of information from sensory memory to be stored in the brain

Storage

retaining information previously stored in the brain

Retrieval

the process the brain goes through to get retained information into working memory, getting information out of memory stores

Sensory memory

the immediate, very brief recording of sensory information in the memory system - we cannot process it all at once, so we select what is more important to process

Short-term memory

activated memory that holds a few items briefly, and may be forgotten quickly

Long-term memory

memory storage with unlimited capacity

Working memory

memories that last around 20 seconds used in performing cognitive tasks, the capacity varies from person to person, magic 7

Explicit memory

a type of long-term memory, has to be given conscious thought to recall

Effortful processing

encoding of information/memories that takes conscious effort and attention to commit to memory

Chunking

organizing items into familiar, manageable units; increases working memory capacity, form of effortful processing

Mnemonics

memory aids, especially those techniques that use vivid imagery and organizational devices (form of effortful processing)

Implicit memory

a type of long-term memory for skills and association, does not require conscious thought to recall (like route to school)

Automatic processing

unconscious encoding of incidental info, such as space, time, and frequency, and of well-learned info like word meanings

Space, time, skills and frequency

types of information often encoded automatically

Testing effect

enhanced memory after retrieving information, rather than simply rereading information (form of effortful processing)

Spacing effect

the tendency for information to be retained better if there is a longer period of time between sessions or relearning, better when rehearsed over time (form of effortful processing)

Next-in-line effect

when we are next in line, we focus on our own performance and often fail to process the last person's words

Cramming

a hasty form of memorization that works short-term, but not long term

Iconic memory

brief sensory memory of visual stimuli

Echoic memory

brief sensory memory of auditory stimuli

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, gives you better retention

Hippocampus

helps process for storage of explicit memory, like a save button, memories stay there TEMPORARILY

Memory consolidation

neural storage for long-term memory, sleep supports memory consolidation

Flashbulb memory

a clear memory of an emotionally significant moment or event, but memory is NOT free of errors, so the more it is revisited the more prone it is to error

Long-term potentiation

an increase in a cell's firing potential after brief or rapid stimulation, neural basis for your memories

Priming

the activation, often unconsciously, of certain associations in a situation, presetting one's perception, memory, or response

Encoding specificity principle

the idea that cues and contexts specific to a particular memory will be most effective in helping us recall it

Mood-congruent memory

the tendency to recall experiences that are consistent with one's current mood (bad mood means you remember bad things at school, vice versa), emotions are the cue instead of the context

Serial position effect

our tendency to recall best the last and first items in a list, or something unique that sticks out

Anterograde amnesia

an inability to form new memories after the onset of amnesia

Retrograde amnesia

an inability to retrieve information from one's past after the onset of amnesia

Proactive interference

when you forget new information on the recall of old information (calling new teacher old teacher's name)

Retroactive interference

when you forget previously learned information on the recall of new information (like forgetting old students' names after learning new students' names)

Repression

the basic defense mechanism that banishes from consciousness anxiety-arousing thoughts, feelings, and memories

Reconstruction

a process in which previously stored memories, when retrieved, are potentially altered before being stored again

Misinformation effect

when misleading information has corrupted one's memory of an event, when recall becomes less accurate because of post-event information

Source amnesia

attributing an effect to the wrong source that we experienced, heard, read, or imagined, the heart of many false memories (authors and songwriters may unintentionally plagiarize something they heard or saw earlier)

Déjà vu

cues from the current situation may subconsciously trigger retrieval of an earlier experience ("I've experienced this before")

Self-reference effect

tendency to better remember information relevant to ourselves

Cerebellum/Basal Ganglia

cerebellum sends and receives info from the spinal cord, so it helps with procedural memories, and the basal ganglia are important for the coordination of motor activities, so they both help form implicit (automatic) memories

Emotional Arousal and memory

emotional arousal enhances memory for high-priority information, and reduces memory for low-priority information

Hierarchy

complex info broken down into broad concepts and further subdivided into categories and subcategories