Long-Term Memory and Level of Processing Theory Quiz

Study Notes

Long-Term Memory

Refers to the process of storing large amounts of information over a long period with the potential of retrieving it in the future.

Level of Processing Theory

States that remembering depends on how information is encoded, with deeper encoding resulting in better recall.

Flashbulb Memories

Clear and detailed reconstructions of events that are surprising, important, and emotionally stirring.

Memory Phenomena

Tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon: feeling of knowing information but being unable to recall it.
Context-dependent memory: information is better retrieved in the context in which it was encoded.
State-dependent memory: information is better retrieved in the physiological or emotional state in which it was encoded.
Photographic memory: ability to form sharp, detailed visual images after brief exposure and recall them later.

Reasons for Forgetting

Repression: mental process that hides emotionally threatening or anxiety-producing information in the unconscious.
Poor retrieval cues/poor encoding: failure to create vivid mental images or associations leads to forgetting.
Interference: recall of a particular memory is blocked or prevented by other related memories.
Proactive interference: old information blocks or disrupts the remembering of related new information.
Retroactive interference: new information blocks or disrupts the retrieval of related old information.
Amnesia: temporary or permanent loss of memory due to brain damage, disease, anesthesia, or physiological trauma.

Thinking and Cognition

Refers to the mental activity of organizing, understanding, and communicating information.

Forming Concepts

A concept is a way to group or classify objects, events, animals, or people based on shared features or characteristics.
Exemplar model: forming a concept by defining essential characteristics of a particular thing.
Prototype theory: creating a mental image of an object, event, animal, or person by matching it to a prototype.

Problem Solving

Involves searching for a rule, plan, or strategy to achieve a goal.
Algorithms: fixed set of rules that lead to a solution if followed correctly.
Heuristics: rules of thumb or creative mental shortcuts that reduce operations and allow for easy problem-solving.
Availability heuristics: relying on prominent or easily recalled information and overlooking other available information.

Strategies for Problem Solving

Changing one's mental set.
Using analogies: finding similarity between new and old situations.
Forming subgoals: breaking down problems into separate parts.

Description

Test your knowledge on the concept of long-term memory and the level of processing theory which explains how information is encoded and retrieved. Explore how memory functions over a long period and the factors that influence recall.