Module 2.3: Cognitive Psychology Flashcards
Top Down Processing
Using existing models, ideas, and expectations to interpret sensory information.
Bottom Up Processing
Taking sensory information and then assembling and integrating it.
The Gestaltists
Koffka, Kohler and Wertheimer : The German psychologists who studied perceptual organisation and the Law of Pragnanz (patterns).
4 Principles of the Law of Pragnanz
- Law of Proximity
- Law of Similarity
- Law of Continuation
- Law of Closure
Encoding
Transforming perception into memories.
Storage
Maintaining memories over time (sensory storage, short-term storage and working memory, long-term storage). Once information has been successfully encoded, it is stored for later use.
Retrieval
Getting information out of memory and back into conscious awareness.
Short-Term Memory / Working Memory
Our ability to temporarily hold, organize, and manipulate information simultaneously.
The short term memory has a very limited capacity of about 6 to 7 items.
It is fragile and short-lived.
- It is required during processing information.
- It is fragile, short lived (20 – 30 seconds)
- Limited in capacity.
Long-Term Memory
This lasts a lifetime, and contains all the memories that we have experienced. In terms of capacity, it is unlimited.
Can be recalled back to conscious awareness, as needed.
Declarative Memory
This is a type of long-term memory of facts and events we personally experience. It is a memory system that is controlled consciously, intentionally, and flexibly. It generally involves some sort of effort or intention.
Declarative memory generally declines with age.
Non-Declarative Memory
This is a type of long-term memory related to skilled actions, such as knowing how to brush your teeth, drive a car, touch-typing. it is revealed through actions, rather than conscious recollection. Non-declarative memory remains stable with age.
Semantic Memory
Type of declarative memory.
We use this when we recall knowledge and facts.
Eg. Knowing the capital cities of certain countries.
Episodic Memory
Type of declarative memory.
We use this when we recall information about events we have personally experienced.
Eg. Remembering what you’ve eaten yesterday, the conversations you had, etc.
Autobiographical Memory
Type of declarative memory.
We use this when we recall meaningful personal experiences.
Resembles episodic memory but differs in that episodic memory tends to be concerned with relatively trivial experiences.
Priming
Type of non-declarative memory.
Cues that prompt the retrieval of memory. Priming helps trigger associated concepts or memories, making retrieval process more efficient.
A memory that builds on an another memory through associations. Semantic priming refers to facilitation in the processing of a word when it is preceded by a related word.
