Cognitive Psychology: Learning and Memory

Humans learn through thinking, experimentation, and altering their behavior based on new information. Cognitivists consider learning a long-term change in mental representations, influenced by self-regulated learning.

Our sensory register briefly holds all incoming stimuli. We attend to important information, which then moves to short-term or working memory for further processing. This selective process helps us manage the influx of information.

<p>Encoding is the process of converting sensory input into a memory form. This involves modifying, changing, or adding to the information using existing knowledge.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Storage is the process of placing new information into memory. For example, remembering your friend's name hours or years later is a result of the storage process.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Retrieval is the process of accessing stored information in memory. For instance, during exams, you need to retrieve previously learned information to answer questions correctly.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Information in the sensory register lasts for a very short period, typically milliseconds to a few seconds.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Capacity refers to the maximum amount of information that can be retained in a particular memory store. For example, short-term memory has limited capacity.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The sensory register is the first stage of memory where sensory information from the five senses (sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch) is briefly held. It has a very large capacity and a very short duration, holding information for only milliseconds to a few seconds.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Working memory is a type of short-term memory that temporarily stores information while we engage in cognitive tasks such as comprehension, reasoning, problem-solving, and learning. It has a limited capacity, typically holding around 7±2 items at once, and a duration of 15-30 seconds unless information is actively rehearsed.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Long-term memory is the memory system for storing information for an extended period, potentially a lifetime. It has a practically unlimited capacity and can hold information for an extended time, although retrieval may become more difficult as time passes.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Attention is crucial for the three-component model. It determines which sensory input gets processed further (sensory register), it helps maintain information in working memory, and it is essential for encoding information into long-term memory.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Attention has a limited processing capacity, meaning we can only focus on a limited amount of information at one time. It is also constantly shifting from moment to moment as we respond to changes in our environment.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Temperature</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The interconnectedness of long-term memory refers to how different pieces of information are organized and related to each other in our minds. This allows us to understand new information, make connections, and act accordingly based on retrieved memories.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Long-term memory stores two types of information: declarative (explicit) and non-declarative (implicit). Declarative memory includes episodic memory (personal experiences) and semantic memory (general knowledge). Non-declarative memory includes procedural memory (how to do something) and other unconscious memories.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Knowing the capital of France</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Knowing how to swim</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Feeling anxious when you hear a specific song</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Knowing that the Earth is round</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Rehearsal involves repeating information to keep it in short-term memory. Elaboration connects new knowledge with existing knowledge. Meaningful learning creates connections between new information and prior knowledge for better understanding. Organization structures information to improve storage and retrieval.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Rote learning involves memorizing information through repetition without understanding. It focuses on superficial memorization rather than deep comprehension. Meaningful learning, in contrast, emphasizes understanding and connecting new information with existing knowledge. It focuses on making sense of the material rather than just memorizing it verbatim.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Automaticity refers to the ability to perform tasks with minimal conscious effort due to extensive practice and repetition. For example, after years of practice, typing without looking at the keyboard becomes an automatic skill.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Asking students to share their experiences with plants before a lesson on photosynthesis</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Providing a brief overview of the main topics in a lesson</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The decay theory suggests that memories fade and weaken over time if they are not used or rehearsed. This is like a memory trace gradually decaying or eroding with disuse.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Interference occurs when one piece of information (old or new) disrupts the recall of other information. Inhibition involves actively blocking or suppressing information or thoughts. Both interference and inhibition can make it difficult to retrieve specific memories effectively.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Repression is an unconscious process that pushes distressing memories or thoughts out of awareness, while suppression is a conscious effort to block out unwanted memories or feelings. Repression is often seen as a defense mechanism, while suppression is a deliberate strategy to manage unpleasant thoughts.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The consolidation theory suggests that memories are fragile during the initial time after they are formed and can be disrupted by events such as interruption or distraction. This process of solidifying memories into our long-term memory is known as consolidation, and if disrupted, it can lead to forgetting.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Encoding failure occurs when information was never properly processed or stored in memory in the first place. It's like never writing the information down in the first place.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A concrete concept is easily identified by physical appearance. For example, a dog is easily recognized by its physical characteristics.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>An abstract concept involves similarities that are not readily observable on the surface, such as the concept of 'freedom.' It is a complex idea that requires deeper understanding and reasoning.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Correlational concepts are those where features are related but not strictly necessary for inclusion. For example, ‘intelligence’ is a correlational concept because the features of intelligence are related but not all people with those features would be considered intelligent.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Undergeneralization reflects an inability to recognize all positive instances of a concept. Overgeneralization reflects an inability to reject all negative instances of a concept. Both represent errors in applying a concept to specific situations.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Transfer of learning refers to how past learning influences new learning or performance. The main types include positive or negative transfer (enhancing or hindering new learning), vertical or lateral transfer (building on prior knowledge or using unrelated knowledge), near or far transfer (similar or dissimilar situations), and specific or general transfer (overlapping or different content).</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Well-defined problems have clearly specified goals, starting points, and available operators, leading to a clear path to the solution. Ill-defined problems have vague goals, unclear paths, and multiple potential solutions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Algorithms are step-by-step procedures guaranteed to solve a problem if followed correctly. Heuristics are mental shortcuts that provide quicker solutions, but they may not be guaranteed to yield the correct answer and can be less precise.</p> Signup and view all the answers