03 Memory and Learning Free Online FlashCards

What are the three connected processes of memory?

Encoding takes in and organizes information, storage maintains it over time, and retrieval brings it back to mind.

What role does attention play in sensory memory?

Sensory memory briefly preserves incoming sensations. Attention selects some information for further processing; unattended details quickly disappear.

How do semantic and episodic memory differ?

Semantic memory holds facts and concepts; episodic memory holds personal events. Both are forms of explicit, or declarative, memory.

What is elaborative encoding?

Elaborative encoding means explaining how a new idea relates to knowledge you already have, making the information more meaningful.

How do recall and recognition differ?

Recall means producing information without seeing the answer; recognition means identifying information encountered before, such as in a multiple-choice question.

What is proactive interference?

Proactive interference occurs when earlier learning disrupts new learning, such as an old password intruding when you try to remember a new one.

Why space study sessions instead of cramming?

Spacing revisits material across multiple sessions. For long-term retention, repeated learning opportunities spaced over time generally outperform repetitions packed into one session.

What makes an activity retrieval practice?

Retrieval practice means trying to recall or explain material from memory, then checking the response and correcting errors. The benefit comes from attempting retrieval, not from high-stakes testing.

What is interleaving, and what can it help learners do?

Interleaving alternates between related problem types. It can help learners distinguish which method applies, though its usefulness depends on the task.

How do rereading and highlighting compare with self-testing for durable learning?

Rereading and highlighting can build familiarity, but used alone they are less reliable for durable learning than spaced practice and self-testing.

What limits working memory?

Working memory briefly holds and works with a limited amount of information. Complex instructions or unfamiliar material can overload it.

What is implicit memory?

Implicit memory includes learned skills and habits that can influence performance without deliberate recall, such as a familiar typing pattern.