PSYCH-190 Lecture Notes - Lecture 18: Psych, Working Memory, Executive Functions
16 Dec 2020
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Document Summary
Memory the retention of information over time is central to mental life and to information processing. Long-term memory: a relatively permanent memory system that holds huge amounts of information for a long period of time, long-term memory increases substantially in the middle and late childhood years. Improvement likely continues during adolescence, although this has not been well documented by researchers: long-term memory depends on the learning activities engaged in when an individual is learning and remembering information. Executive function: an umbrella-like concept that involves higher-order, complex cognitive processes: exercising cognitive control, making decisions, reasoning, thinking critically, thinking creatively, metacognition. Two categories of executive function are hot executive function and cool executive function. Cognitive control involves effective control and flexible thinking in a number of areas, including controlling attention, reducing interfering thoughts, and being cognitively flexible. Across childhood and adolescence, cognitive control increases with age: this increase is thought to be due to the maturation of brain pathways and circuitry.
