Chapter 7: Memory

Question 1

memory

Answer 1

mental system for receiving, encoding, storing, organizing, altering, and retrieving information

Question 2

encoding (in memory)

Answer 2

converting information into a form to be retained in memory

Question 3

storage (in memory)

Answer 3

holding information in memory for later use

Question 4

retrieval (in memory)

Answer 4

recovery of stored information

Question 5

sensory memory

Answer 5

fleeting storage system for sensory impressions

Question 6

iconic memory

Answer 6

a mental image or visual impression

Question 7

echoic memory

Answer 7

a brief continuation of sensory activity in the auditory system after a sound is heard

Question 8

short-term memory (STM)

Answer 8

storage system used to hold smell amounts of information in conscious awareness for about a dozen seconds

Question 9

long-term memory (LTM)

Answer 9

unlimited capacity storage system that can hold information over lengthy periods of time

Question 10

working memory

Answer 10

another name for short-term memory, especially as it is used for thinking a problem solving

Question 11

mental images

Answer 11

mental pictures or visual depictions used in memory and thinking

Question 12

maintenance rehersal

Answer 12

repeating information over and over to keep it active in short-term memory

Question 13

rote reversal (rote learning)

Answer 13

learning by simple repetition

Question 14

Elaborative processing

Answer 14

making memories more meaningful through processing that encodes linke between new information and existing memories and knowledge, either at the time of the original encoding or on subsequent retrievals

Question 15

information bits

Answer 15

meaningful units of information, such as numbers, letters, words, or phrases

Question 16

chunking

Answer 16

process of grouping similar or meaningful information together

Question 17

multimedia principle

Answer 17

the idea the people process words and mental images together than they do alone

Question 18

false memory

Answer 18

a memory that can seem accurate but is not

Question 19

source confusion (in memory)

Answer 19

occurs when the origins of a memory are misremembered

Question 20

network model 9of memory)

Answer 20

a model of memory that views it as an organized system of linked information

Question 21

retrieval cue

Answer 21

any information that can prompts or trigger the retrieval of particular memories; usually enhance memory

Question 22

redintegration

Answer 22

process by which memories were reconstructed or expanded by starting with one memory and then following chains of association to other, related memories

Question 23

cognitive interview

Answer 23

use of various cues and strategies to improve the memory of eyewitnesses

Question 24

procedural memory

Answer 24

the part of long-term memory for how to so things that require motor or performance skills

Question 25

declarative memory

Answer 25

that part of long-term memory containing specific factual information

Question 26

semantic memory

Answer 26

a sub part of declarative memory that records impersonal knowledge about the world

Question 27

episodic memory

Answer 27

a subpart of declarative memory that records personal experiences that are linked with specific times and places

Question 28

tip-of-the-tongue (TOT) state

Answer 28

the feeling that a memory is available but not quite retrievable

Question 29

availability (in memory)

Answer 29

memories currently stored in memory are available

Question 30

accessibility (in memory)

Answer 30

memories currently stored in memory that can be located when necessary are both available and accessible

Question 31

recall

Answer 31

retrieval of information with a minimum of external cues

Question 32

Serial position effect

Answer 32

when remembering an ordered list, the tendency to make the most errors with middle terms

Question 33

recognition

Answer 33

ability to correctly identify previously learned information

Question 34

relearning

Answer 34

learning again something that was previously learned; used to measure memory of prior learning

Question 35

explicit memory

Answer 35

a recollection that a person is aware of having or is consciously retrieved

Question 36

implicit memory

Answer 36

a recollection that a person does not know exists and is retrieved unconsciously

Question 37

priming

Answer 37

facilitating the retrieval of an implicit memory by using cues to activate hidden memories

Question 38

encoding failure

Answer 38

failure to store sufficient information to form a useful memory

Question 39

decay theory

Answer 39

proposition that the strength of memories weakens over time making them harder to retrieve

Question 40

memory traces

Answer 40

physical changes in neurons or brain activity that take place when memories are stored

Question 41

disuse (in memory)

Answer 41

proposition that memory traces weaken when memories are not periodically used or retrieved

Question 42

state-dependent learning

Answer 42

memory influenced by one’s physical state at the time of learning and at the time of retrieval; improved memory occurs when the physical states match

Question 42

retrieval failure

Answer 42

failure to access (locate) memories even though they are available (stored in memory)

Question 43

interference

Answer 43

the tendency for new memories to impair retrieval of older memories, and the reverse

Question 44

retroactive interference

Answer 44

the tendency for new memories to interfere with the retrieval of older memories

Question 45

proactive interference

Answer 45

the tendency for old memories to interfere with the retrieval of newer memories

Question 46

positive transfer

Answer 46

mastery of one task aids learning of performing another

Question 47

negative transfer

Answer 47

mastery of one task conflicts with learning of performing another

Question 48

repression

Answer 48

keeping distressing thoughts and feelings buried in the unconscious

Question 49

suppression

Answer 49

a conscious effort to put something out of mind or to keep it from awareness

Question 50

amnesia

Answer 50

inability to form or retrieve memories of events due to an injury or trauma

Question 51

retrograde amnesia

Answer 51

inability to retrieve memories of events that occurred before an injury or trauma

Question 52

anterograde amnesia

Answer 52

inability to form or retrieve memories of events that occurred before after an injury or trauma

Question 53

consolidation

Answer 53

process by which relatively permanent memories are formed in the brain

Question 54

hippocampus

Answer 54

part of the limbic system associated with storing memories

Question 55

flashbulb memory

Answer 55

especially vivid and detailed recollection of an emotional event

Question 56

long-term potentiation

Answer 56

brain mechanism used to form lasting memories by strengthening the connection between neurons that become more active at the same time

Question 57

eidetic imagery

Answer 57

the ability to retain a “projected” mental image long enough to use it as a source of information

Question 58

spaced practice

Answer 58

a practice schedule that alternates study periods with brief rests

Question 59

massed practice

Answer 59

a practice schedule in which studying continues for long periods, without interpretation