Memory
Memory refers to the psychological processes of acquiring, storing, retaining, and
later retrieving information. There are three major processes involved in memory:
encoding, storage, and retrieval.
Human memory involves the ability to both preserve and recover information.
However, this is not a flawless process. Sometimes people forget or misremember
things. Other times, information is not properly encoded in memory in the first
place.
Process of Memory:
Memory is essentially the capacity for storing and retrieving information. Three
processes are involved in memory: encoding, storage, and retrieval.
Encoding
Processing information into memory is called Encoding. People automatically
encode some types of information without being aware of it. For example, most
people probably can recall where they ate lunch yesterday, even though they didn’t
try to remember this information. However, other types of information become
encoded only if people pay attention to it. College students will probably not
remember all the material in their textbooks unless they pay close attention while
they’re reading.
Storage
Storage refers to the process of keeping the information in our memory so that we
can access it at a later time. When we store information in our memory, we are
essentially creating a mental representation of that information. This mental
representation can be in the form of a picture, a sound, or a feeling. Storage
involves short term memory and long term memory.
Recall
Recall refers to the process of retrieving information from our memory. In order to
recall information from our memory, we must first have encoded and stored that
information in our memory. Recall is the process of retrieving information from
our memory stores. When we recall information, we "re-experience" the event
originally encoded in our memory system.
Types of Memory
Richard Atkinson and Richard Shiffrin proposed memory stages in 1968, that are:
sensory memory, short-term memory, and long-term memory.
Sensory Memory
Sensory memory is the earliest stage of memory. During this stage, sensory
information from the environment is stored for a very brief period of time,
generally for no longer than a half-second for visual information and three or four
seconds for auditory information. This form of memory is short lived (0.5–3
seconds) but has a large capacity.
Short-Term Memory
Short-term memory, also known as active memory, is the information we are
currently aware of or thinking about. In Freudian psychology, this memory would
be referred to as the conscious mind. Paying attention to sensory memories
generates information in short-term memory. Most of the information stored in
active memory will be kept for approximately 20 to 30 seconds.
Long-Term Memory
Long-term memory refers to the continuing storage of information. In Freudian
psychology, long-term memory would be called the preconscious and unconscious.
This information is largely outside of our awareness but can be called into working
memory to be used when needed. Some memories are fairly easy to recall, while
others are much more difficult to access.
Forgetting
Forgetting is the loss or of information already encoded and stored in an
individual's short or long-term memory. Forgetting is a surprisingly common
event. Just consider how easy it is to forget someone’s name or overlook an
important appointment. Why do people so often forget information they have
learned in the past?
There are four basic explanations for why forgetting occurs:
Failure to store a memory
Interference
Motivated forgetting
Retrieval failure
Techniques to Improve Memory
There are few things you can do to make it even better. Useful strategies to deal
with mild memory loss include:
Write it down: The act of writing with a pen and paper helps implant the
memory into your brain—and can also serve as a reminder or reference later
on.
Attach meaning to it: You can remember something more easily if you
attach meaning to it. For instance, if you associate a person you just meet
with someone you already know, you may be able to remember their name
better.
Repeat it: Repetition helps the memory become encoded beyond your short-
term memory.
Group it: Information that is categorized becomes easier to remember and
recall.
Test yourself: While it may seem like studying and rehearsing information
is the best way to ensure that you will remember it, researchers have found
that being tested on information is actually one of the best ways to improve
recall.
Take a mental picture: Systematically trying to make a mental note of
things you often forget (such as where you left your car keys) can help you
remember things better.
Get enough rest: Research has also found that sleep plays a critical role in
learning and the formation of new memories.