AP Psychology

Advanced Placement Psychology studying behavior and mental processes.

Advanced Topics

Memory and Cognition

How Do We Remember and Think?

Memory is the process by which we encode, store, and retrieve information. Cognition refers to mental activities like thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making.

Stages of Memory

  • Encoding: Getting information into the brain.
  • Storage: Keeping information over time.
  • Retrieval: Getting information out when needed.

Types of Memory

  • Short-Term Memory: Holds a few items briefly.
  • Long-Term Memory: Has unlimited capacity.

Cognitive Processes

  • Problem Solving: Finding solutions to challenges.
  • Heuristics: Mental shortcuts for quick decisions.

Tips for Better Memory

  • Use repetition and association.
  • Organize information with chunking.

Examples

  • Remembering your friend's birthday after seeing it on social media.

  • Solving a puzzle by breaking it into smaller parts.

In a Nutshell

Memory and cognition help us store information and solve problems.