Memory

Memory

Definition: A cognitive system that retains information. Example: When you learn dance and are able to recall it.

Flashbulb Memory

Definition: A flashbulb memory is a vivid, enduring memory for how one learned about a surprising, shocking event. Example: Remembering everything that happened on a terrible day.

Hippocampus

Definition: A part of the limbic system that is vital for the formation of memories. Example: Learning something to remember uses the Hippocampus.

Semantic Encoding

Definition: A specific type of encoding in which the meaning of something is encoded as opposed to the sound or vision of it. Example: Remembering a photograph from what it contains.

Explicit Memory

Definition: A type of long-term memory in which we store memories of fact. Example: Remembering the date of all historical battles.

Echoic Memory

Definition: A very brief sensory memory of some auditory stimuli. Example: Remembering a sound that just played.

Iconic Memory

Definition: A very brief sensory memory of some visual stimuli Example: Remembering a photo that was just shown.

Relearning

Definition: A way of measuring retention by measuring how much faster one relearns material that has been previously learned and then forgotten. Example: After memorizing a speech it usually is easier to memorize it again at a different point in time.

Chunking

Definition: A way of organizing information into familiar groupings. Example: Putting country's together by population to help remember them.

Priming

Definition: An acuteness to stimuli because of exposure to a certain event or experience. Example: After learning how science works a person see it all around them.

Recall

Definition: Bringing a thought or idea learned previously into conscious awareness. Example: Remembering a answer for a test.

Rehearsal

Definition: Consciously repeating information over and over to help remember it. Example: Repeating a phone number out loud to better remember it.

Recognition

Definition: Identifying something you learned previously and is therefore stored in some manner in memory. Example: Answer a question on a multiple question test.

Effortful Processing

Definition: Learning or storing (encoding) that requires attention and effort. Example: Trying hard to remember how to do a math formula.

Mnemonics

Definition: Memory aids that help people to remember. Example: Repeating the same word in your head.

Repression

Definition: Pushing memories that are hard to deal with to the unconscious. Example: Forgetting a car accident that killed many people.

Implicit Memory

Definition: Recollection of skills, things you know how to do, preferences, etc., that you don't need to recall consciously. Example: Riding a bike to school.

Spacing Effect

Definition: Spacing out learning so that it is easier to recall. Example: Study everyday not all in one day.

Working Memory

Definition: Storing and processing Information simultaneity. Example: Doing math while remembering the numbers being used.

Mood Congruent Memory

Definition: That when memories get stored they also store a memory of the mood they were in at the time. Example: Recalling a good memory also recalls happy feelings.

Long-Term Potentiation

Definition: The ability of brain cells to retain how frequently they send signals to other brain cells. Example: Doing math lots increase the long term memory for that.

Parallel Processing

Definition: The ability of the brain to do many things at once. Example: Talking on the phone while running.

Automatic Processing

Definition: The ability of the brain to do something without giving it any thought. Example: Playing the piano without thinking about it.

Storage

Definition: The ability to retain information in the brain. Example: The way to a house is stored in a person memory storage.

Proactive Interference

Definition: The difficulty in learning new information because of already existing information. Example: Learning Spanish can be harder if you already know English.

Retroactive Interference

Definition: The difficulty recalling old information because of newly learned information. Example: Having problems remembering Spanish after learning German.

Imagery

Definition: The formation of any mental pictures. Example: Thinking of picture that your going to paint.

Amnesia

Definition: The inability to recall past events. Example: Getting a blow to the head and being not able to recall old information.

Source Amnesia

Definition: The inability to remember from where existing knowledge was acquired. Example: Not being able to remember when a person learned to read.

Short-Term Memory

Definition: The part of the memory system where information is stored for roughly 30 seconds. Example: Remembering a phone number just to type it in once.

Sensory Memory

Definition: The part of the memory system which is the initial contact for stimuli. Example: Remembering a long digit code for a small time.

Visual Encoding

Definition: The process by which we remember visual images. Example: When a person is trying to remember a photograph.

Retrieval

Definition: The process in which information in your memory can be recalled. Example: Remembering an answer to a test question.

Encoding

Definition: The process of breaking the information down into a form we understand Example: When your brain is processing a math problem.

Acoustic Encoding

Definition: The process of remembering and comprehending something that gets heard. Example: Hearing a sentence and knowing what it means.

Deja Vu

Definition: The sense of "I've experienced this before." that could be caused by clues triggering the subconscious. Example: A person seeing new that seem familiar.

Serial Position Effect

Definition: The tendency to recall information that is presented first and last better than information presented in the middle. Example: Remembering things on the top and bottom of a grocery list.

Long-Term Memory

Definition: The unlimited capacity memory store that can hold information over lengthy periods of time. Example: A person remembering how to read.

Misinformation

Definition: The witnessing of an event and then getting some incorrect information about that event and incorporating that into our memories. Example: Remembering a person who robed a bank but it being the wrong person.