Terms concepts Definitions examples Information processing Memory is a process approach to memory It s similar to a computer recording memory 3 basic processes Encoding like typing into a computer Storage like saving what you typed in the computer Retrieval like retrieving what you typed Parallel distributed Memory is distributed across interconnected neurons in the brain processing model of When activated the network works simultaneously in a parallel memory manner to process information Levels of processing Memory depends on the degree or depth of processing occurring approach to memory Shallow processing leads to little memory Deeper processing leads to greater memory E g when you study and all you do is read your notes you don t learn as much as if you quiz yourself as you go Three stage memory model forgetting information can occur at each step in the process of remembering something Sensory information lost e g forgetting the faces of some of the people you walked past on the way to class Short term info lost e g forgetting the name of someone you just met We haven t proven that long term memory is ever permanently lost We only remember information if we process it pay attention to it Encoding Involves a meaningful representation of the memory we transform what we perceive think or feel into an enduring memory Maintenance When you repeat information out loud or in your head to remember it Retrieval Memory is recalled and then re encoded Visual imagery encoding The process of storing new info by converting it into mental pictures Organizational encoding The process of categorizing info according to the relationships among a Sensory memory Stores a brief copy for less than 3 seconds of stimuli that register Iconic memory A transduced encoded visual snapshot or icon Echoic memory Memory of sounds Seems to last for several seconds Short term memory STM Aka working memory 3 parts o Visuospatial sketchpad e g allows you where to find the psych lecture hall without having to think hard about where it is aka storage series of items during sensory processing Iconic echoic memory Lasts less than 1 second o Phonological rehearsal loop repeating something in your head to remember it o Central executive has to do with attention STM stores about 7 noticed items for up to 30 seconds unless rehearsed Chunking Grouping information together to remember more STM Facilitates encoding and transfer to long term memory consolidation of info in STM into long term memory Primacy effect It is easy to remember the first item learned STM Recency effect It is easy to remember the last item learned STM Long term memory LTM You are most likely to remember information by semantic judgment items that have meaning than by rhyme or visual judgment Explicit LTM is organized through the semantic network Explicit memory Any memories we can talk about or consciously recall Semantic episodic memory Semantic memory Information and facts e g what year did Columbus sail to America Episodic memory Personally experienced events Recall vs recognition Recall is when you can directly remember or recall information when asked about it intentionally bringing explicit information to awareness e g listing the names of the 7 dwarves from Snow White Recognition is when you realize you know the information when you see or hear it encoding an input and matching it to a stored representation e g recognizing the names of the 7 dwarves from a Encoding of explicit LTMs Elaborative rehearsal needed to create meaningful chunks and Elaborative rehearsal the act of rehearsing or repeating information so you remember it list of names hierarchies like studying for a test Hierarchies method of organizing information like outline format Semantic network the network of info in your brain the activation of one concept leads to priming of semantically related concepts making their subsequent retrieval more probable if you can t remember something the semantic network can help you recall it by first thinking of related items Implicit memory memory you aren t consciously aware of includes procedural memory and priming Procedural memory motor and cognitive skills e g walking Priming enhanced identification of objects or words Long term potentiation A process whereby communication across the synapse between LTP neurons strengthens the connection making further NMDA receptor A receptor site on the hippocampus that influences the flow of information between neurons by controlling the initiation of long Encoding specificity The idea that a retrieval cue can serve as an effective reminder principle when it helps re create the specific way in which information was communication easier term potentiation initially encoded State dependent retrieval The tendency for information to be better recalled when the person ins in the same state during encoding and retrieval Transfer appropriate The idea that memory is likely to transfer from one situation to processing another when the encoding contexts of the situations match Retrieval induced A process whereby retrieving an item from long term memory forgetting Transience impairs subsequent recall of related items Forgetting what occurs with the passage of time Retroactive interference Situations in which information learned alter impairs memory for Proactive interference Situations in which information learned earlier impairs memory for information acquired earlier information acquired later Absentmindedness A lapse in attention that results in memory failure Prospective memory Remembering to do things in the future Blocking A failure to retrieve information that is available in memory even though you are trying to produce it Memory misattribution Assigning a recollection or an idea to the wrong source Source memory Recall of when where and how information was acquired False recognition A feeling of familiarity about something that hasn t been Suggestibility The tendency to incorporate misleading information from external encountered before sources into personal recollections on recollection of previous experiences Bias The distorting influences of present knowledge beliefs and feelings Persistence The intrusive recollection of events that we wish we could forgetc Sleep important for memory consolidation FMRIs show that during recall for a group that got sleep as opposed to the sleep deprived group There was increased hippocampal activity There was a stronger interaction between the hippocampus Sleep