PYC3703 – COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY
CHAPTER 5: SHORT-TERM AND WORKING MEMORY
Key Terms Explanation Pg
Articulatory rehearsal Responsible for the rehearsal that can keep items in
138
process the phonological store from decaying
Articulatory Reduces memory because speaking interferes with
141
suppression rehearsal
Pulls information from the long-term memory and
coordinates the activity of the phonological loop and
Central executive visuospatial sketch pad by focusing on specific parts 139
of a task and deciding how to divide attention
between different tasks
Procedure that uses visual items that cannot be
Change detection 134
verbalised
Enables the limited-capacity STM system deal with
the large amount of information involved in many of
Chunking 133
the tasks we perform everyday
For example, chunking letters into words
Dynamic processes associated with the structural
Control processes features that can be regulated by the person and 125
may differ from one task to another
Decay 131
Delayed partial report
129
method
Delayed-response
151
task
Digit span The number of digits a person can remember 132
Persistence of sound, lasts for a few seconds after
Echoic memory 130
presentation of the original stimulus
Embedded processes
150
model
Episodic buffer Can store information and is connected to LTM 149
Event-related
146
potential (ERP)
Iconic memory Brief sensory memory for visual stimuli 129
The process involved in retaining, retrieving and
using information about stimuli, images, events,
Memory 123
ideas and skills after the original information is no
longer present
, Rotating an image of one of the objects in their mind
Mental rotation 143
in order to solve a problem
Modal model of Proposed 3 types of memory: sensory, short-term
125
memory and long-term
Operation span 140
Partial report method 129
Repeatedly performing the same action or thought
Perseveration 145
even if it is not achieving the desired goal
The continued perception of a visual stimulus even
Persistence of vision 127
after it is no longer present
Phonological loop Holds verbal and auditory information 138
Phonological Refers to the confusion of letters/words that sound
140
similarity effect similar
Limited capacity and holds information for only a few
Phonological store 138
seconds
Interference that occurs when information that was
Proactive
learned previously interferes with learning new 131
interference
information
Reading span 139
Rehearsal Repeating a stimulus over and over 125
Retroactive Occurs when new learning interferes with
1331
interference remembering old learning
Sensory memory 127
The system involved in storing small amounts of
Short-term memory
information for a somewhat longer but still brief 130
(STM)
period of time
Structural features The 3 types of memory 125
The creation of visual images in the mind in the
Visual imagery 142
absence of a physical visual stimulus
Visuospatial sketch
Holds visual and spatial information 138
pad
Whole report method Participants asks to report as much as possible 128
Refers to the observation that our memory for lists of
Word length effect 140
words is better for short words than long words
A limited capacity system for temporary storage and
Working memory manipulation of information for complex tasks such 137
as comprehension, learning and reasoning
CHAPTER 5: SHORT-TERM AND WORKING MEMORY
Key Terms Explanation Pg
Articulatory rehearsal Responsible for the rehearsal that can keep items in
138
process the phonological store from decaying
Articulatory Reduces memory because speaking interferes with
141
suppression rehearsal
Pulls information from the long-term memory and
coordinates the activity of the phonological loop and
Central executive visuospatial sketch pad by focusing on specific parts 139
of a task and deciding how to divide attention
between different tasks
Procedure that uses visual items that cannot be
Change detection 134
verbalised
Enables the limited-capacity STM system deal with
the large amount of information involved in many of
Chunking 133
the tasks we perform everyday
For example, chunking letters into words
Dynamic processes associated with the structural
Control processes features that can be regulated by the person and 125
may differ from one task to another
Decay 131
Delayed partial report
129
method
Delayed-response
151
task
Digit span The number of digits a person can remember 132
Persistence of sound, lasts for a few seconds after
Echoic memory 130
presentation of the original stimulus
Embedded processes
150
model
Episodic buffer Can store information and is connected to LTM 149
Event-related
146
potential (ERP)
Iconic memory Brief sensory memory for visual stimuli 129
The process involved in retaining, retrieving and
using information about stimuli, images, events,
Memory 123
ideas and skills after the original information is no
longer present
, Rotating an image of one of the objects in their mind
Mental rotation 143
in order to solve a problem
Modal model of Proposed 3 types of memory: sensory, short-term
125
memory and long-term
Operation span 140
Partial report method 129
Repeatedly performing the same action or thought
Perseveration 145
even if it is not achieving the desired goal
The continued perception of a visual stimulus even
Persistence of vision 127
after it is no longer present
Phonological loop Holds verbal and auditory information 138
Phonological Refers to the confusion of letters/words that sound
140
similarity effect similar
Limited capacity and holds information for only a few
Phonological store 138
seconds
Interference that occurs when information that was
Proactive
learned previously interferes with learning new 131
interference
information
Reading span 139
Rehearsal Repeating a stimulus over and over 125
Retroactive Occurs when new learning interferes with
1331
interference remembering old learning
Sensory memory 127
The system involved in storing small amounts of
Short-term memory
information for a somewhat longer but still brief 130
(STM)
period of time
Structural features The 3 types of memory 125
The creation of visual images in the mind in the
Visual imagery 142
absence of a physical visual stimulus
Visuospatial sketch
Holds visual and spatial information 138
pad
Whole report method Participants asks to report as much as possible 128
Refers to the observation that our memory for lists of
Word length effect 140
words is better for short words than long words
A limited capacity system for temporary storage and
Working memory manipulation of information for complex tasks such 137
as comprehension, learning and reasoning
