Types of Memory
This type of memory stores information about general facts and concepts, like "The capital of France is Paris."
What is semantic memory?
This model suggests that memory is a set of interconnected structures, with information processed in parallel across a network of units.
What is the parallel distributed processing model?
This type of mental framework organizes knowledge about concepts, events, or objects based on shared characteristics.
What is a schema?
In the PDP approach, these are the basic units that represent knowledge, similar to neurons in the brain.
What are nodes?
This theory explains that people categorize concepts by comparing them to a prototype, which is an average member of a category.
What is the prototype theory?
This memory system involves recalling specific events and experiences, such as remembering your first day of school.
What is episodic memory?
According to this model, memory is divided into three separate stores: sensory memory, short-term memory, and long-term memory.
What is the Atkinson-Shiffrin model?
This concept refers to our ability to recognize a typical example of a category, like identifying a typical bird as a robin.
What is a prototype?
In parallel distributed processing, learning is based on this process, which strengthens the connections between nodes that frequently work together.
What is connection strengthening?
This theory focuses on the retrieval of specific examples (exemplars) from memory rather than a general prototype.
What is the exemplar theory?
This memory system involves brief retention of sensory information, like remembering the image of a flashing light for a fraction of a second.
What is sensory memory?
This theory proposes that long-term memory is not a passive storage system, but rather, an active, dynamic process involving complex neural networks.
What is connectionism?
In the process of categorization, this term refers to the typical or most representative instance of a category.
What is a prototype?
In the PDP model, this is the process through which a system can still function even if some parts are damaged, thanks to the distributed nature of the network.
What is graceful degradation?
This theory argues that concepts are represented by networks of associated ideas, where the activation of one concept spreads to others in the network.
What is spreading activation theory?
This type of memory system allows you to remember details such as a phone number for a few seconds while dialing it, before forgetting it shortly after.
What is short-term memory?
This model suggests that memory is not simply about storing information but involves processes like attention, encoding, and retrieval that depend on working memory.
What is the working memory model?
According to this approach, categories are stored as networks of interrelated concepts that allow us to make inferences about things that are not directly encountered.
What is the semantic network theory?
In the PDP model, this process refers to the activation of a node based on patterns of input from the surrounding nodes.
What is pattern completion?
This approach explains that concepts are organized by both family resemblance and hierarchical levels, with superordinate, basic, and subordinate categories.
What is the semantic network approach?
This memory system allows you to retain highly detailed, vivid memories of important events, often with strong emotional associations, such as remembering where you were during a historical event.
What is flashbulb memory?
According to the ACT-R theory, this type of knowledge involves facts and concepts that are learned and stored for later recall, while the other type deals with learned procedures and skills.
What is declarative memory?
This term refers to the mental structure that we use to understand typical events, often including knowledge about roles, actions, and objects that are part of common experiences.
What is a script?
According to the PDP model, the brain’s neural networks can handle information in a way that’s much more efficient than a traditional computer system because of this.
What is parallel processing?
This theory, proposed by Eleanor Rosch, emphasizes that categories are organized around prototypes that serve as ideal representatives for a group of objects or events.
What is the prototype theory?