Key Terms: Encoding, Storing & Retrieving Memories

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Encoding

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The process of converting information into a form that can be stored in memory. Example: Using mnemonic devices or chunking to remember a list of words.

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Mnemonic Devices

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Strategies or tools that aid memory by creating associations, such as acronyms or visual imagery. Example: Remembering the Great Lakes using the acronym 'HOMES' (Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, Superior).

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Chunking

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Grouping information into smaller, meaningful units to improve memory. Example: Breaking a phone number into groups (e.g., 123-456-7890).

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Spacing Effect

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The phenomenon where distributed study sessions lead to better long-term retention than cramming. Example: Studying vocabulary words daily over a week instead of one long session.

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Serial Position Effect

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The tendency to recall items at the beginning (primacy effect) and end (recency effect) of a list better than those in the middle. Example: Remembering the first and last items on a shopping list.

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Maintenance Rehearsal

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Repeating information to keep it in short-term memory without adding meaning. Example: Repeating a phone number until dialing it.

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Elaborative Rehearsal

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A memory technique that involves linking new information to existing knowledge or personal experiences. Example: Associating a new term with a real-world example.

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Working Memory

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A temporary system for holding and manipulating information necessary for cognitive tasks. Example: Remembering steps in a recipe while cooking.

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Long-Term Memory

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The storage of information over an extended period, with potentially unlimited capacity. Example: Remembering childhood experiences or academic concepts learned years ago.

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Recall

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Retrieving information from memory without cues. Example: Answering an open-ended question on a test.