AP Psychology Flashcards: Storing Memories
Written by AP Content Team, Verified for 2026 AP Exams, Last updated: May 2026
Review key ideas with interactive flashcards. This set includes 11 cards to help you master important concepts.
What is the self-reference effect in memory?
The self-reference effect is the tendency for information related to oneself to be more memorable and easily retained.
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What is the self-reference effect in memory?
The self-reference effect is the tendency for information related to oneself to be more memorable and easily retained.
What is elaborative rehearsal?
Elaborative rehearsal is a memory strategy that helps retention by focusing on the meaning of information and connecting it to existing knowledge.
What is maintenance rehearsal?
Maintenance rehearsal is a memory technique that prolongs the storage of information, typically in short-term memory, by repeating it.
To remember the term 'elaborative rehearsal,' a student links it to a personal memory of studying for a history test. What two memory principles are they applying?
The student is using elaborative rehearsal (by promoting meaning) and taking advantage of the fact that self-referential memories are more memorable.
What does the existence of highly superior autobiographical memory (HSAM) suggest about memory storage?
HSAM suggests that superior memory storage capabilities can be linked to underlying biological processes.
Which type of rehearsal is more effective for long-term retention and why?
Elaborative rehearsal is more effective for long-term retention because it promotes a deeper understanding of the information's meaning.
What is the primary function of memory storage?
Memory storage is the process responsible for retaining information in memory over a period of time.
Repeating a phone number to yourself over and over until you can dial it is an example of what process?
This is an example of maintenance rehearsal, which is used to prolong storage in short-term memory.
Name three conditions mentioned that can negatively impact memory storage.
Memory storage can be negatively affected by physical impairments like amnesia, Alzheimer's disease, and infantile amnesia.
How does working memory relate to short-term memory storage?
Working memory is a form of short-term memory that involves not just storage but also the active manipulation and processing of information.
On what three key dimensions do sensory, short-term, and long-term memory differ?
These types of memory differ in their storage duration (how long they hold information), capacity (how much they hold), and the content they store.