| anterograde amnesia | (an-ter´o¯-gra¯d) Disorder of memory characterized by an inability to store and/or retrieve new information in long-term memory.
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| chunks | Units of memory.
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| decay theory | The theory that forgetting occurs as the memory trace fades over time.
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| elaboration | (e-lab´´ or-ra¯´ shun) The process of creating associations between a new memory and existing memories.
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| engram | (en´ gram) The as yet unidentified memory trace in the brain that is the biological basis of memory.
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| episodic memory | (ep?¯-sod-ik) Memory for specific experiences that can be defined in terms of time and space.
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| hippocampus | (hip´´ o-kam´ pus) The forebrain structure believed to play a key role in long-term memory.
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| interference theory | The theory that forgetting occurs because similar memories interfere with the storage or retrieval of information.
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| Korsakoff's syndrome | (Kor-sak´ ofs) A disorder involving both anterograde and retrograde amnesia caused by excessive use of alcohol.
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| levels of processing model | An alternative to the stage theory of memory stating that the distinction between short-term and long-term memory is a matter of degree rather than different kinds of memory and is based on how incoming information is processed.
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| long-term memory (LTM) | The third stage of memory, involving the storage of information that is kept for long periods of time.
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| motivated forgetting | Forgetting that is believed to be based on the upsetting or threatening nature of the information that is forgotten.
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| proactive interference | (pro¯-ak´ tiv) Interference created by memories from prior learning.
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| procedural memory | Memory for motor movements and skills.
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| rehearsal | Mental repetition of information for retention in short-term memory.
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| repression | Sigmund Freud's theory that forgetting occurs because the conscious mind often deals with unpleasant information by pushing it into unconsciousness.
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| retroactive interference | (ret´´ ro¯-ak´ tiv) Interference created by memories from later learning.
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| retrograde amnesia | (ret´ ro¯-gra¯d) A memory disorder characterized by an inability to retrieve old long-term memories, generally for a specific period of time extending back from the beginning of the disorder.
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| schema theory | The theory that information stored in LTM sometimes changes over time to become more consistent with our beliefs, knowledge, and expectations.
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| semantic memory | (se-man´tik) Memory for meaning without reference to the time and place of learning.
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| sensory register | The first stage of memory, in which an exact image of each sensory experience is held briefly until it can be processed.
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| serial position effect | Immediate recall of items listed in a fixed order is often better for items at the beginning and end of the list than for those in the middle.
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| short-term memory (STM) | The second stage of memory, in which five to nine bits of information can be stored for brief periods of time.
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| stage theory of memory | A model of memory based on the idea that we store information in three separate but linked memories.
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| synaptic facilitation | The process by which neural activity causes structural changes in the synapses that facilitate more efficient learning and memory.
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2002 McGraw-Hill Higher Education