AP Psychology Chapter 9: Memory Flashcards

Study Notes

Memory Techniques and Concepts

Method of Loci: A mnemonic strategy utilizing spatial relationships and mental imagery of locations to enhance memory retention and recall.

Key Figures in Memory Research

George Miller: Noted for the "magic number 7 plus or minus 2," highlights the capacity limit of short-term memory; contributed to cognitive psychology and psycholinguistics.
Karl Lashley: Attempted to locate a biological basis for memory (engram) in rats, concluding that memory is distributed across the cerebral cortex rather than localized.
Eric Kandel: Awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2000 for groundbreaking research into the molecular mechanisms underlying memory storage in neurons.

Types of Amnesia

Psychogenic Amnesia: A form of memory loss attributed to psychological factors, such as severe stress or trauma.
Organic Amnesia: Memory loss resulting from physical factors, like substance abuse or brain trauma.

Memory Phenomena

Mood-Congruent Memory: The tendency to recall information that is consistent with one’s current emotional state.
Hermann Ebbinghaus: Pioneered experimental studies in memory, known for discovering the forgetting curve, which explains how information is lost over time, and the spacing effect that enhances memory retention.

Interference in Memory

Proactive Interference: Older memories disrupt the ability to recall newer information.
Retroactive Interference: New information hinders the recall of previously learned information.

Memory Distortion

Repression: A psychological defense mechanism that blocks out memories or impulses that may induce anxiety from conscious awareness.
Misinformation Effect: The phenomenon where memory recall can be affected by misleading information introduced after the event, revealing the fragility of memory.
Source Amnesia: An explicit memory disorder where individuals remember information but forget the context or source of that memory.

Elizabeth Loftus' Contributions

Elizabeth Loftus: Renowned for her research on the misinformation effect, eyewitness memory, and the nature of false memories, including issues related to recovered memories in the context of childhood trauma.

Description

Test your knowledge with these flashcards on memory concepts from AP Psychology Chapter 9. Learn about key theories and figures such as the Method of Loci and George Miller's contributions to cognitive psychology. Perfect for exam preparation or quick review!