memory
the retention of information or experience over time
encoding
the process by which information gets into memory storage
selective attention
focusing on a specific aspect of experience while ignoring others
divided attention
concentrating on more than one activity at the same time (i.e., multi-tasking)
sustained attention
the ability to maintain attention to a selected stimulus for a prolonged period of time
executive attention
involves action planning, allocating attention to goals, error detection and compensation, monitoring progress on tasks, and dealing with novel or difficult circumstances
levels of processing
a continuum of memory processing from shallow to intermediate to deep, with deeper processing producing better memory
elaboration
the formation of a number of different connections around a stimulus at any given level of memory encoding
storage
the retention of information over time and how this information is represented in memory
Atkinson-Shiffrin theory
memory storage involves three separate systems: sensory memory, short-term memory, and long-term memory
sensory memory
holding information in its original sensory form for only and instant
echoic memory
auditory sensory memory
iconic memory
visual sensory memory
short-term memory
Limited-capacity memory system in which information is usually retained for only as long as 30 seconds unless we use strategies to retain it longer
chunking
grouping information that exceeds 7+/-2 memory span into single units
rehearsal
conscious repetition of information
working memory
allows us to hold information temporarily as we perform cognitive tasks; a mental blackboard
long-term memory
the relatively permanent storage of information
explicit (declarative) memory
the conscious recollection of information, such as specific facts or events and, at least in humans, information that can be verbally communicated
episodic memory
memory for one's personal past experiences
semantic memory
memory for knowledge about the world
implicit (nondeclarative) memory
Consists of our skills and conditioned responses
procedural memory
a type of implicit memory that involves motor skills and behavioral habits
priming
the activation of information that people have in storage to help them remember new information better and faster
schemas
a preexisting mental concept to help organize and interpret information
script
A schema for an event, often containing information about physical features, people, and typical occurrences.
parallel distributed processing
theory that memory is stored throughout the brain in connections among neurons; they work together to process a single memory
retrieval
the process of getting information out of memory storage
serial position effect
the tendency to recall the items at the beginning and end of a list more readily than those in the middle
encoding specificity principle
information present at the time of encoding is an effective retrieval cue
context-dependent memory
when the recall situation is similar to the encoding situation
interference theory
people forget because other information gets in the way of what we want to remember
proactive interference
the disruptive effect of prior learning on the recall of new information
retroactive interference
the disruptive effect of new learning on the recall of old information
decay theory
passage of time increases forgetting