Memory Encoding, Storage, and Retrieval (6B) - MCAT Psychological and Social Foundations
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Which memory system best explains the recency effect in list recall?
Which memory system best explains the recency effect in list recall?
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Short-term/working memory (recent items still active). Last items remain in STM at time of recall.
Short-term/working memory (recent items still active). Last items remain in STM at time of recall.
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What is the phonological loop in Baddeley’s working memory model?
What is the phonological loop in Baddeley’s working memory model?
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Subsystem for temporary storage/rehearsal of verbal sounds. Processes speech-based info through rehearsal.
Subsystem for temporary storage/rehearsal of verbal sounds. Processes speech-based info through rehearsal.
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What is iconic memory?
What is iconic memory?
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Brief visual sensory memory lasting about $0.5$ s. Allows perception of complete visual scenes despite brief exposure.
Brief visual sensory memory lasting about $0.5$ s. Allows perception of complete visual scenes despite brief exposure.
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What is the typical duration of iconic (visual sensory) memory?
What is the typical duration of iconic (visual sensory) memory?
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About $0.5$ seconds. Visual afterimages fade extremely quickly.
About $0.5$ seconds. Visual afterimages fade extremely quickly.
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Identify the retrieval strategy: using a related memory to access the target memory.
Identify the retrieval strategy: using a related memory to access the target memory.
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Cue-dependent retrieval. Environmental or mental cues trigger associated memories.
Cue-dependent retrieval. Environmental or mental cues trigger associated memories.
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What is procedural memory, and which broad memory category does it belong to?
What is procedural memory, and which broad memory category does it belong to?
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Skill and habit memory; implicit (nondeclarative) memory. Motor skills operate without conscious awareness.
Skill and habit memory; implicit (nondeclarative) memory. Motor skills operate without conscious awareness.
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What is the spacing effect in learning and memory?
What is the spacing effect in learning and memory?
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Spaced practice yields better long-term retention than massed practice. Distributed learning beats cramming.
Spaced practice yields better long-term retention than massed practice. Distributed learning beats cramming.
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What is levels-of-processing theory in memory encoding?
What is levels-of-processing theory in memory encoding?
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Deeper semantic processing produces better long-term retention. Meaningful processing beats shallow processing.
Deeper semantic processing produces better long-term retention. Meaningful processing beats shallow processing.
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What is the difference between maintenance rehearsal and elaborative rehearsal?
What is the difference between maintenance rehearsal and elaborative rehearsal?
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Maintenance repeats; elaborative links to meaning for long-term storage. Simple repetition vs. meaningful connections.
Maintenance repeats; elaborative links to meaning for long-term storage. Simple repetition vs. meaningful connections.
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What is levels-of-processing theory of memory?
What is levels-of-processing theory of memory?
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Deeper semantic processing produces stronger, more durable memories. Processing meaning creates stronger memories than surface features.
Deeper semantic processing produces stronger, more durable memories. Processing meaning creates stronger memories than surface features.
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What is the difference between maintenance rehearsal and elaborative rehearsal?
What is the difference between maintenance rehearsal and elaborative rehearsal?
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Maintenance repeats; elaborative adds meaning/associations to encode deeply. Maintenance just repeats; elaborative creates connections.
Maintenance repeats; elaborative adds meaning/associations to encode deeply. Maintenance just repeats; elaborative creates connections.
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What is the episodic buffer in Baddeley’s working memory model?
What is the episodic buffer in Baddeley’s working memory model?
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Integrates information across modalities and links to long-term memory. Temporary store combining different types of information.
Integrates information across modalities and links to long-term memory. Temporary store combining different types of information.
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Which working memory component allocates attention and coordinates the subsystems?
Which working memory component allocates attention and coordinates the subsystems?
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Central executive. Directs attention and integrates information from subsystems.
Central executive. Directs attention and integrates information from subsystems.
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Which working memory component temporarily stores visual and spatial information?
Which working memory component temporarily stores visual and spatial information?
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Visuospatial sketchpad. Processes mental images and spatial relationships.
Visuospatial sketchpad. Processes mental images and spatial relationships.
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Which working memory component temporarily stores auditory or verbal information?
Which working memory component temporarily stores auditory or verbal information?
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Phonological loop. Rehearses speech-based information through subvocal repetition.
Phonological loop. Rehearses speech-based information through subvocal repetition.
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What is working memory (relative to short-term memory)?
What is working memory (relative to short-term memory)?
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Active, limited-capacity system for holding and manipulating information. Unlike passive STM, it actively processes information.
Active, limited-capacity system for holding and manipulating information. Unlike passive STM, it actively processes information.
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What is the Atkinson–Shiffrin (modal) model’s three memory stores?
What is the Atkinson–Shiffrin (modal) model’s three memory stores?
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Sensory memory, short-term memory, long-term memory. Information flows sequentially through these three stages.
Sensory memory, short-term memory, long-term memory. Information flows sequentially through these three stages.
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What is retrieval in the context of human memory?
What is retrieval in the context of human memory?
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The process of accessing stored information. Reactivates stored memory traces to bring them to consciousness.
The process of accessing stored information. Reactivates stored memory traces to bring them to consciousness.
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What is storage in the context of human memory?
What is storage in the context of human memory?
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The retention of encoded information over time. Maintains encoded memories in neural networks over time.
The retention of encoded information over time. Maintains encoded memories in neural networks over time.
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What is encoding in the context of human memory?
What is encoding in the context of human memory?
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The process of converting information into a storable memory trace. Transforms sensory input into neural representations for storage.
The process of converting information into a storable memory trace. Transforms sensory input into neural representations for storage.
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Identify the retrieval principle: Recall improves when internal/external context matches encoding.
Identify the retrieval principle: Recall improves when internal/external context matches encoding.
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Encoding specificity (context-dependent memory). Memory is enhanced when retrieval context matches encoding context.
Encoding specificity (context-dependent memory). Memory is enhanced when retrieval context matches encoding context.
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Which long-term memory type is most directly involved in learning motor skills?
Which long-term memory type is most directly involved in learning motor skills?
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Procedural memory. Stores how-to knowledge for automatic skill execution.
Procedural memory. Stores how-to knowledge for automatic skill execution.
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Which long-term memory type stores personally experienced events with context?
Which long-term memory type stores personally experienced events with context?
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Episodic memory. Includes time, place, and emotional context of experiences.
Episodic memory. Includes time, place, and emotional context of experiences.
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Which long-term memory type stores facts and general knowledge?
Which long-term memory type stores facts and general knowledge?
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Semantic memory. Stores conceptual knowledge without personal context.
Semantic memory. Stores conceptual knowledge without personal context.
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What is the difference between explicit (declarative) and implicit (nondeclarative) memory?
What is the difference between explicit (declarative) and implicit (nondeclarative) memory?
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Explicit is conscious recall; implicit is unconscious learning (skills/priming). Explicit requires conscious effort; implicit occurs automatically.
Explicit is conscious recall; implicit is unconscious learning (skills/priming). Explicit requires conscious effort; implicit occurs automatically.
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What is long-term potentiation (LTP) as a mechanism of memory?
What is long-term potentiation (LTP) as a mechanism of memory?
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Persistent strengthening of synapses after repeated activation. Cellular mechanism where synapses become more responsive.
Persistent strengthening of synapses after repeated activation. Cellular mechanism where synapses become more responsive.
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Identify the effect: A delay before recall eliminates recall of the last list items.
Identify the effect: A delay before recall eliminates recall of the last list items.
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Recency effect is reduced because short-term memory contents decay. Delay allows STM traces to fade, eliminating recency advantage.
Recency effect is reduced because short-term memory contents decay. Delay allows STM traces to fade, eliminating recency advantage.
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What is chunking as a strategy for improving short-term memory performance?
What is chunking as a strategy for improving short-term memory performance?
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Grouping items into meaningful units to increase effective capacity. Overcomes STM's $7±2$ item limit by creating larger units.
Grouping items into meaningful units to increase effective capacity. Overcomes STM's $7±2$ item limit by creating larger units.
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What is working memory, and how does it differ from short-term memory?
What is working memory, and how does it differ from short-term memory?
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Active manipulation of info; STM emphasizes brief storage. Working memory processes info; STM just holds it.
Active manipulation of info; STM emphasizes brief storage. Working memory processes info; STM just holds it.
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What is the Atkinson–Shiffrin (three-stage) model of memory?
What is the Atkinson–Shiffrin (three-stage) model of memory?
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Sensory memory → short-term memory → long-term memory. Sequential flow through three distinct memory stores.
Sensory memory → short-term memory → long-term memory. Sequential flow through three distinct memory stores.
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