50 Key Terms for Memory

absentmindedness

lapses in memory that are caused by breaks in attention or our focus being somewhere else

acoustic encoding

input of sounds, words, and music

amnesia

loss of long-term memory that occurs as the result of disease, physical trauma, or psychological trauma

anterograde amnesia

loss of memory for events that occur after the brain trauma

arousal theory

strong emotions trigger the formation of strong memories and weaker emotional experiences form weaker memories

Atkinson-Shiffrin model

memory model that states we process information through three systems: sensory memory, short-term memory, and long-term memory

automatic processing

encoding of informational details like time, space, frequency, and the meaning of words

bias

how feelings and view of the world distort memory of past events

blocking

memory error in which you cannot access stored information

chunking

organizing information into manageable bits or chunks

construction

formulation of new memories

declarative memory

type of long-term memory of facts and events we personally experience

effortful processing

encoding of information that takes effort and attention

elaborative rehearsal

thinking about the meaning of new information and its relation to knowledge already stored in your memory

encoding

input of information into the memory system

engram

physical trace of memory

episodic memory

type of declarative memory that contains information about events we have personally experienced, also known as autobiographical memory

equipotentiality hypothesis

some parts of the brain can take over for damaged parts in forming and storing memories

explicit memory

memories we consciously try to remember and recall

false memory syndrome

recall of false autobiographical memories

flashbulb memory

exceptionally clear recollection of an important event

forgetting

loss of information from long-term memory

implicit memory

memories that are not part of our consciousness

levels of processing

information that is thought of more deeply becomes more meaningful and thus better committed to memory

long-term memory (LTM)

continuous storage of information

lobectomy
a surgical procedure in which a lobe (a portion or in its entirety) is removed from the brain

memory

set of processes used to encode, store, and retrieve information over different periods of time

memory-enhancing strategy

technique to help make sure information goes from short-term memory to long-term memory

misattribution

memory error in which you confuse the source of your information

misinformation effect paradigm

after exposure to additional and possibly inaccurate information, a person may misremember the original event

mnemonic device

memory aids that help organize information for encoding

persistence

failure of the memory system that involves the involuntary recall of unwanted memories, particularly unpleasant ones

proactive interference

old information hinders the recall of newly learned information

procedural memory

type of long-term memory for making skilled actions, such as how to brush your teeth, how to drive a car, and how to swim

recall

accessing information without cues

recognition

identifying previously learned information after encountering it again, usually in response to a cue

reconstruction

process of bringing up old memories that might be distorted by new information

rehearsal

repetition of information to be remembered

relearning

learning information that was previously learned

retrieval

act of getting information out of long-term memory storage and back into conscious awareness

retroactive interference

information learned more recently hinders the recall of older information

retrograde amnesia

loss of memory for events that occurred prior to brain trauma

self-reference effect

tendency for an individual to have better memory for information that relates to oneself in comparison to material that has less personal relevance

semantic encoding

input of words and their meaning

semantic memory

type of declarative memory about words, concepts, and language-based knowledge and facts

sensory memory

storage of brief sensory events, such as sights, sounds, and tastes

short-term memory (STM)

holds about seven bits of information before it is forgotten or stored, as well as information that has been retrieved and is being used

storage

creation of a permanent record of information

suggestibility

effects of misinformation from external sources that leads to the creation of false memories

transience

memory error in which unused memories fade with the passage of time

visual encoding

input of images