GCSE Psychology

Unit 1: Key Topic 1 Memory

KEY TERMS
ENCODING Information is changed so that it can be stored. This can be done visually or acoustically. Encoded information is stored in the memory so that it can be accessed at a later date. Accessing or retrieving the information from storage. How long information can stay with that memory (this can be a few seconds or up to a lifetime). How much information can be stored with that memory (this can be a few items up to the capacity being limitless). Uncoded information received through our senses is held for a just a few seconds in the STM before being passed on to the short term memory for encoding. Contains encoded information from the sensory memory. Its capacity is between 5 and 9 objects, and its duration is up to 30 seconds. The storage of all things in the memory that are not currently being used. The duration is up to a lifetime and the capacity is limitless. If we do not pay attention to the information in the sensory store, it simply decays. Information is shunted out of storage by new information, and so becomes forgotten. Process of repeating information so that it stays in storage, temporarily or permanently.

STORAGE

RETRIEVAL DURATION

CAPACITY

SENSORY MEMORY

SHORT TERM MEMORY

LONG TERM MEMORY

DECAY

DISPLACEMENT

MAINTENANCE/REHEARSAL

GCSE Psychology SEMANTIC PROCESSING PHONETIC PROCESSING STRUCTURAL PROCESSING PROACTIVE INTERFERENCE

Unit 1: Key Topic 1 Memory Processing things in relation to what they mean. Processing things in relation to how they sound. Processing things in relation to the way they look. When information that you have already processed interferes with new information you are trying to process, the end result that you forget new information. When new information interferes with material that you have already processed and stored. Cues that are external to us i.e. the environment in which the information was learnt. Memory loss that is caused by physical injury to the brain; it can be caused by a traumatic/ emotional event. A compete inability to recall memories from LTM, or to form new memories. A loss of memory of what happens after the event that caused the amnesia.

RETROACTIVE INTERFERENCE

CONTEXT DEPENDENT

AMNESIA

RETROGRADE AMNESIA

ANTEROGRADE AMNESIA