06 Memory: Encoding, Retrieval, and Learning Free Online FlashCards

What are the three core processes of memory?

Memory is the set of processes by which information is encoded, stored, and retrieved. It is selective and reconstructive rather than a perfect recording of experience.

What is encoding failure?

Encoding failure occurs when information is not attended to well enough to be stored effectively. Simply seeing something does not guarantee that its details were encoded.

What does semantic encoding process?

Semantic encoding processes the meaning of information. Meaningful, elaborated information is generally remembered better than information processed only for appearance or sound.

What is the self-reference effect?

The self-reference effect is the tendency to remember information better when it is connected to one’s own experiences or identity.

What is working memory?

Working memory temporarily holds and manipulates information in conscious awareness. It supports mental operations such as interpreting a sentence or calculating without writing down every step.

What does episodic memory store?

Episodic memory stores personally experienced events, including what happened, where it happened, and when it happened.

What does procedural memory support?

Procedural memory supports learned skills, such as riding a bicycle or typing. It is an implicit form of long-term memory that does not require conscious recollection.

Which brain region is especially important for forming many new declarative memories?

The hippocampus and related medial temporal-lobe structures are especially important in forming many new declarative memories.

What is memory consolidation?

Consolidation stabilizes a newly formed memory. It can continue after learning, during which the memory may be temporarily vulnerable to disruption.

What is the encoding specificity principle?

Encoding specificity means retrieval is easier when the conditions during recall resemble those present during encoding, because the original context provides useful cues.

What is proactive interference?

Proactive interference occurs when older learning interferes with remembering newer information, such as an old password making a new password difficult to recall.

What is retroactive interference?

Retroactive interference occurs when newer learning interferes with remembering older information, such as a new phone number making an old number harder to recall.