Memory Review Sheet

Memory human capacity to register, retain, and remember information.

INFORMATION PROCESSING MODEL OF MEMORY:

Storage Process of RETAINING encoded information over time.

Retrieval The process of getting INFO OUT of memory storage.

THREE MEMORY SYSTEMS:

Iconic Memory Type of sensory memory for visual stimuli that lasts less than a second.

Echoic Memory Type of sensory memory of auditory stimuli (sounds)….last up to 3 seconds.

Selective Attention focusing of awareness on certain stimuli. Explains the COCKTAIL PARTY effect.

Automatic Processing unconscious encoding of information about encoding of space, time, and frequency that occurs without
interfering with our thinking about other things.

Effortful Processing Encoding that requires our attention and conscious effort. Best for facilitating movement of information
from Short Term Memory to Long Term Memory. Studying is an example of effortful processing.

2. Short Term Memory known as working memory. Short duration (usually lasts around 20 seconds); holds 7 items +-2.

Rehearsal conscious repetition of information to either maintain information in Short term memory or to encode it
into storage.

Maintenance Rehearsal simple rote repetition of information. Ex: simply reading your vocab words out loud to study (less
effective)

Elaborative Rehearsal repetition that creates associations between new memories and existing memories stored in LTM. Ex:
picturing vocab words in your head and thinking how it relates to your life. Most effective studying
method.

Chunking grouping information into meaningful units increasing the capacity of Short Term Memory.

Mnemonic Devices memory tricks or strategies to make information easier to remember. (Using first letter)

Method of loci memory trick where one uses visualization with familiar objects on a path to recall information in a list.

Peg Word System Uses association of terms to be remembered with a memorized scheme. (Associating words with letters)

3. Long Term Memory relatively PERMANENT and LIMITLESS capacity that consists of explicit (declarative) and implicit
(nondeclarative) memories.

Explicit Memory FACT MEMORY. Also known as DECLARATIVE MEMORY. Consists of experiences that one can
consciously know and can verbalize. These memories are facilitated in part by HIPPOCAMPUS. Consist
of Semantic and Episodic Memories

Semantic Memory memory that involves understanding MEANING of a fact or an event. Ex: Knowing examples of vocab.

Episodic Memory memory of PERSONALLY EXPERIENCED events. Ex: first date.

Implicit Memory Also known as PROCEDURAL MEMORY. Is your SKILL MEMORY. Ex: Riding a bike, walking, or
other usually motor related memories. Also includes CLASSICALLY CONDITIONED responses.

Prospective Memory: involves remembering to perform a PLANNED/FUTURE TASK at the appropriate time. Example:
remembering to put on toothpaste cap after you brush your teeth or a doctor remembering to wash his
hands before surgery.
LTM ORGANIZATION OF INFORMATION:
Hierarchies systems which concepts are arranged from more general to more specific classes.
Ex: Superordinate--Vehicle Basic--Car Subordinate--Honda Accord

Concepts mental representations of related things.

Prototypes the most typical examples of a concept. What you visualize when you think of a concept.

Flashbulb Memory vivid memory of an emotionally significant event. Ex: marriage, 9/11.

Long-Term Potentiation an increase in synapses's firing potential after something is well-learned. Neurons fire more efficiently
For well learned tasks. Is probably the neural basis for learning.

Hippocampus involved in putting explicit memories from STM into LTM.

Cerebellum involved in processing of implicit (skill) memory and seems to store procedural memory and classically
conditioned memories.

Amygdala involved in the storage of EMOTIONALLY significant events.

Priming activating specific associations in memory either consciously or unconsciously. Retrieval cues prime our
memories.

Recognition identification of something as familiar as measured by a multiple choice or matching test.

Recall retrieval of information from LTM in the absence of other information or cues. Ex: Essay question or
fill in the blank test.

Reconstruction process of how our memories are not direct "snapshots" of actual events. We often distort memories by
adding, dropping, or changing details to complete a picture from incomplete stored information.

Source Amnesia process of combining and substituting memories from events other than the one you're trying to
remember. Ex: Reagan telling WWII memory that was actually a movie. Also called
CONFABULATION.

Misinformation Effect Incorporation of misleading information into memories of a given event.

Serial Position Effect when learning a list we have better recall for beginning (primacy effect) and the end of the list (recency
effect)..middle is forgotten most often.

Context-Dependent Memory tendency to recall information best in the setting you learned it.

Mood Congruence tendency to recall experiences that are consistent with one's good or bad mood.

State Dependent Memory Effect tendency to recall information better in same internal state as when the info was encoded. If
put keys somewhere when you were drunk…may be easier to recall when you are drunk.
FORGETTING:
Proactive Interference process by which PRIOR (old) memories interfere with retrieval of newer memories. Ex: old cell
number interferes with learning of your new cell when you get a new phone.

Retroactive Interference process by which new memories interfere with the retrieval of old memories.
Ex: After snowboarding you may have difficulty getting used to skiing again.

Tip of the Tongue Phenom. Temporary inability to access information accompanied by a feeling the information is in LTM.
Example of retrieval failure.

Anterograde Amnesia inability to create new explicit memories after some brain trauma. Caused by damage to the
hippocampus.

Retrograde Amnesia memory loss for a segment of the past, usually forget everything BEFORE an accident that
caused brain trauma.