1. Chapter 7 Notes AP Tips

2. Be able to identify to three steps necessary to have memories. Encoding: the process of acquiring and entering information into memory Storage: maintaining the encoded information over a period of time so it can be retrieved later Retrieval: the process of accessing the stored information

3. Understand the parallel distributed processing (PDP) model of memory. New information is integrated with existing memories, resulting in a change in a person’s overall knowledge base. Enables multiple networks in the brain to process different kinds of sensory information simultaneously

4. Understand the information processing model of memory. Memory must be processed through three stages: sensory memory, short-term memory, and long-term memory. People have a distinct sensory memory for each sense Iconic memory (visual) is retained for less than a second Echoic memory (auditory) tends to be retained for only a few seconds

5. Short-term memory receives information from sensory memory and then uses information stored in long-term memory to understand and associate the new information Working memory: the info that a person is actively “working with” in short-term memory Duration of short-term memory is 20 to 30 seconds; limited capacity ( 7 + 2) Maintenance Chunking

6. Long-term memory is the “warehouse” that stores a limitless amount of information over a period of time. Elaborative rehearsal: application of personal meaning and understanding to help ensure that the information is encoded into long-term memory

7. Know the difference between explicit and implicit memories. Explicit memories require conscious thinking to recall. Episodic memories: personal memories Semantic memories: generalized knowledge of the world that does not involve a specific event

8. Implicit memories: do not require conscious thinking to recall Procedural memory: contains information about how to do things

9. Know how long-term memories are organized. Semantic network model: memories are stored through associations Fire truck – red – stop sign – street - …. Priming: a process that refers to activating and associating the strands of memories positioned in the semantic network; often occurs unconsciously

10. Understand retrieving from long-term memory Retrieval cues: clues that help trigger a long- term memory Tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon: retrieval cues fail to trigger the memory Primacy and recency effects: people often have an easier time retrieving info located at the beginning and the end of a list

11. Know factors that affect retrieval. Encoding specificity principle: retrieval is more effective when retrieval conditions are similar to those that were in effect when the information was encoded Mood congruence effect: when a person is in a happy mood, that person tends to think of happy memories State-dependent memory: retrieval is most successful when people are in the same psychological state as when they learned the information

12. Be prepared to explain how schemas could lead to memory distortion. Schemas: established mental representations of people, objects, and events Schemas can contribute to memory distortions by making it hard to incorporate new info that contradicts established info represented by a schema

13. Know about the Ebbinghaus forgetting curve. The most dramatic drop in what people retain in long-term memory occurs during the first nine hours, especially in the first hour. After initial decline, the rate of forgetting slows down considerably

14. Know the difference between retroactive and proactive interference. Retroactive interference: a new memory interferes with your remembering an old memory Proactive interference: an older memory interferes with your remembering a new memory

15. Know about suppression and repression. Suppression is used to consciously forget information. Repression is the unconscious forgetting of information Freud: repressed memories can still influence a person unconsciouly

16. Know about biological basis for memory. Neurons play a role in memory retrieval and forming new memories. Neuron changes in the hippocampus are facilitated by the neurotransmitters glutamate and acetylcholine. Acetylcholine deficiency linked to Alzheimer’s disease.

17. Know the difference between retrograde and anterograde amnesia. Retrograde amnesia is the inability to remember events from the past, specifically episodic memories. Anterograde amnesia is the inability to form new memories

18. Be able to explain how mnemonic devices improve memory. Mnemonics are memory aids that help organize information PEMDAS