AP Psychology · Unit 5
Cognitive Psychology: every key term you need (+ practice quiz)
24 flashcard terms for AP Psychology Unit 5, written to match the course framework. Study them here, then drill them as interactive flashcards, or test yourself with the 10-question quiz — free, no account needed.
Study this unit free →
More AP Psychology guides
Memory The persistence of learning over time through encoding, storage, and retrieval of information.
Encoding The process of getting information into the memory system through automatic or effortful processing.
Storage The retention of encoded information over time across sensory, short-term, and long-term memory.
Retrieval The process of getting information out of memory storage for use, via recall or recognition.
Sensory Memory Brief, exact storage of sensory input; iconic (visual) lasts under a second, echoic (auditory) a few seconds.
Short-Term / Working Memory Holds about 7 items for around 20 seconds; working memory actively manipulates that information.
Long-Term Memory Relatively permanent, limitless storage of knowledge, skills, and experiences.
Chunking Organizing items into meaningful units to expand short-term memory capacity.
Rehearsal & Spacing Effect Repeating information aids retention; distributing practice over time (spacing) beats cramming.
Explicit vs Implicit Memory Explicit (declarative) memories are consciously recalled; implicit (procedural) include skills and conditioning.
Levels of Processing Deeper, meaning-based (semantic) processing yields stronger memories than shallow processing.
Retrieval Cues Stimuli that aid recall; the more associations encoded, the easier retrieval becomes.
Context & State-Dependent Memory Recall improves when the environment or internal state at retrieval matches that at encoding.
Serial Position Effect Tendency to best recall the first (primacy) and last (recency) items in a list.
Ebbinghaus Forgetting Curve Shows memory decays rapidly at first, then levels off over time.
Interference Forgetting when memories compete; proactive (old disrupts new) or retroactive (new disrupts old).
Misinformation Effect Incorporating misleading post-event information into a memory, distorting eyewitness recall (Loftus).
Schema A mental framework that organizes and interprets information, shaping perception and memory.
Drill these as interactive flashcards →
Algorithm vs Heuristic Algorithms are step-by-step guaranteed solutions; heuristics are faster mental shortcuts that can err.
Availability Heuristic Judging likelihood by how easily examples come to mind, often overestimating vivid events.
Representativeness Heuristic Judging probability by how well something matches a prototype, ignoring base rates.
Confirmation Bias & Fixation Seeking information that confirms beliefs; fixation blocks fresh problem-solving perspectives.
Language Spoken, written, or signed communication using symbols and grammar (phonemes, morphemes, syntax).
Intelligence The capacity to learn from experience, reason, and adapt; measured by standardized tests (introduced here).
Turn these into flashcards & quizzes →
Crammy is a free all-in-one study hub for AP, A-Level, GCSE, IB and test prep — flashcards, quizzes, practice exams, an AI tutor, and adaptive study sessions. Start studying free .
SAT® and AP® are registered trademarks of the College Board. ACT® is a registered trademark of ACT, Inc. None is affiliated with, sponsors, or endorses Crammy, and none has reviewed our practice material. All questions and explanations here are original. Legal & attributions .