Psychology Unit 7A Vocabulary

Questions and Answers

What is memory?

The persistence of learning over time through the storage and retrieval of information (correct)

The retention of encoded information over time

The immediate recording of sensory information

The process of getting information out of memory storage

What is a flashbulb memory?

A clear memory of an emotionally significant moment or event.

What does encoding refer to?

The processing of information into the memory system.

What is storage in the context of memory?

The retention of encoded information over time. Signup and view all the answers

What is retrieval?

The process of getting information out of memory storage. Signup and view all the answers

What is sensory memory?

The immediate, very brief recording of sensory information in the memory system. Signup and view all the answers

What is short-term memory?

Activated memory that holds a few items briefly. Signup and view all the answers

What defines long-term memory?

The relatively permanent and limitless storehouse of the memory system. Signup and view all the answers

What is working memory?

A newer understanding of short-term memory that focuses on active processing. Signup and view all the answers

What is automatic processing?

Unconscious encoding of incidental information. Signup and view all the answers

What does effortful processing refer to?

Encoding that requires attention and conscious effort. Signup and view all the answers

What is rehearsal?

The conscious repetition of information. Signup and view all the answers

What is the spacing effect?

The tendency for distributed study to yield better long-term retention. Signup and view all the answers

What is the serial position effect?

Our tendency to recall best the last and first items in a list. Signup and view all the answers

What is visual encoding?

The encoding of picture images. Signup and view all the answers

What is acoustic encoding?

The encoding of sound, especially the sound of words. Signup and view all the answers

What does semantic encoding involve?

The encoding of meaning, including the meaning of words. Signup and view all the answers

What is imagery in memory?

Mental pictures that aid in processing. Signup and view all the answers

What are mnemonics?

Memory aids that use vivid imagery and organizational devices. Signup and view all the answers

What is chunking in memory?

Organizing items into familiar, manageable units. Signup and view all the answers

What is iconic memory?

A momentary sensory memory of visual stimuli. Signup and view all the answers

What is echoic memory?

A momentary sensory memory of auditory stimuli. Signup and view all the answers

What is long-term potentiation?

An increase in a synapse's firing potential after rapid stimulation. Signup and view all the answers

What is amnesia?

The loss of memory. Signup and view all the answers

What is implicit memory?

Retention independent of conscious recollection. Signup and view all the answers

What is explicit memory?

Memory of facts and experiences that can be consciously recalled. Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the hippocampus in memory?

It helps process explicit memories for storage. Signup and view all the answers

What is recall in terms of memory measurement?

A measure of memory where the person retrieves earlier learned information. Signup and view all the answers

What does recognition measure in memory?

A measure where the person identifies items previously learned. Signup and view all the answers

What is relearning in memory assessment?

A measure that assesses the time saved when learning material for a second time. Signup and view all the answers

What is priming in psychology?

A technique used to train a person's memory along with retrieval cues. Signup and view all the answers

What is mood-congruent memory?

The tendency to recall experiences consistent with one's current mood. Signup and view all the answers

What is déjà vu?

The eerie sense that 'I've experienced this before.' Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Memory and Its Types

Memory is the persistence of learning over time, involving storage and retrieval of information.
Flashbulb memory refers to vivid recollections of emotionally significant events.

Memory Processes

Encoding is the processing of information into memory, often by extracting meaning.
Storage entails retaining encoded information over time.
Retrieval involves accessing information from memory storage.

Types of Memory

Sensory memory captures immediate sensory information quickly but briefly.
Short-term memory holds a limited amount of information temporarily, like a phone number.
Long-term memory is a vast, relatively permanent storage area for knowledge, skills, and experiences.

Working and Automatic Processing

Working memory is actively processing incoming information and retrieving from long-term memory.
Automatic processing occurs unconsciously, encoding incidental information like time and frequency.

Effortful Processing Techniques

Effortful processing requires conscious attention and effort to encode information.
Rehearsal is consciously repeating information to encode or maintain it in memory.
The spacing effect indicates that distributed study enhances long-term retention over massed practice.

Recall and Recognition

The serial position effect describes the tendency to remember the first and last items in a series best.
Recall is retrieving information learned earlier, while recognition involves identifying previously learned items.

Memory Aids and Techniques

Visual encoding refers to processing images, while acoustic encoding relates to sounds, especially words.
Semantic encoding involves understanding meanings, enhancing memory retention.
Imagery aids effortful processing, especially alongside semantic encoding.
Mnemonics are techniques using vivid imagery and organizational devices to assist memory.
Chunking organizes items into manageable units, facilitating easier recall.

Memory Systems and Duration

Iconic memory is a brief sensory memory for visual stimuli lasting fractions of a second.
Echoic memory retains auditory stimuli momentarily, allowing recall within a few seconds.
Long-term potentiation describes increased synapse firing after rapid stimulation, linked to learning and memory.

Memory Disorders

Amnesia refers to the loss of memory.
Implicit memory is retained without conscious recollection, also known as procedural memory.
Explicit memory involves facts and experiences that can be declared, known as declarative memory.

Important Brain Structures

The hippocampus processes explicit memories for storage in the limbic system.

Memory Measurement

Relearning assesses time saved when learning material again.
Priming refers to triggering a response by previously encountered stimuli.
Mood-congruent memory is the tendency to recall experiences consistent with one’s current mood.
Déjà vu is the sensation that one has experienced a current situation before, triggered by cues from previous experiences.

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Description

Test your understanding of key terms related to memory in this Psychology Unit 7A vocabulary quiz. Explore concepts such as flashbulb memory, encoding, and storage to enhance your grasp of psychological processes. Perfect for students looking to solidify their knowledge in memory-related topics.