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Memory Definition & Types of Memory: How We Form Memories

This document defines memory and describes the different types of memory. It explains that memory is the process of retaining information over time and is essential for functioning in the present. There are two main types of memory: short-term memory which lasts from seconds to days and stores temporary information, and long-term memory which can last a lifetime and is formed through repetition, association, motivation and can be either implicit (unconscious) or explicit (conscious). Explicit memory includes semantic memory which is general knowledge and episodic memory which involves personal experiences.

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414 views4 pages

Memory Definition & Types of Memory: How We Form Memories

This document defines memory and describes the different types of memory. It explains that memory is the process of retaining information over time and is essential for functioning in the present. There are two main types of memory: short-term memory which lasts from seconds to days and stores temporary information, and long-term memory which can last a lifetime and is formed through repetition, association, motivation and can be either implicit (unconscious) or explicit (conscious). Explicit memory includes semantic memory which is general knowledge and episodic memory which involves personal experiences.

Uploaded by

saman safdar
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Memory Definition & Types of Memory

Human brains are about three times as large as those of our early
australopithecines ancestors that lived 4 million to 2 million years ago,
and for years, scientists have wondered how our brains got so big. A
new study suggests social competition could be behind the increase in
brain size.
Credit: NIH, NIDA

For us to recall events, facts or processes, we have to commit them to


memory. The process of forming a memory involves encoding, storing,
retaining and subsequently recalling information and past experiences.
Cognitive psychologist Margaret W. Matlin has described memory as the
“process of retaining information over time.” Others have defined it as
the ability to use our past experiences to determine our future path.
When they are asked to define memory, most people think of studying
for a test or recalling where we put the car keys. However, memory is
essential in our everyday lives. We would not be able to function in the
present or move forward without relying on our memory.

How we form memories


The process of encoding a memory begins when we are born and occurs
continuously. For something to become a memory, it must first be picked
up by one or more of our senses. A memory starts off in short-term
storage. We learn how to tie our shoe, for example. Once we have the
process down, it goes into our long-term memory and we can do it
without consciously thinking about the steps involved.
Important memories typically move from short-term memory to long-
term memory. The transfer of information to long-term memory for
more permanent storage can be happen in several steps. Information can
be committed to long-term memory through repetition — such as
studying for a test or repeatedly taking steps until walking can be
performed without thinking — or associating it with other previously
acquired knowledge, like remembering a new acquaintance Mrs.
Emerald by associating her name with an image of the green jewel.
Motivation is also a consideration, in that information relating to
something that you have a keen interest in is more likely to be stored in
your long-term memory. That's why someone might be able to recall the
stats of a favorite baseball player years after he has retired or where a
favorite pair of shoes was purchased.
We are typically not aware of what is in our memory until we need to use
that bit of information. Then we use the process of retrieval to bring it to
the forefront when we need to use it. Again, much of this recall happens
without having concentrate on it — particularly with common tasks such
as shoe tying — but there are other types of memories that take more
effort to bring to the forefront.
Memory loss is often associated with aging, but there are a number of
things that can trigger short- and long-term memory loss, including
injury, medications and witnessing a traumatic event.

Types of memory
While experts have varying definitions for short-term memory, it is
generally described as the recollection of things that happened
immediately up to a few days. It is generally believed that five to nine
items can be stored in active short-term memory and can be readily
recalled. Patients who suffer from short-term memory loss can't
remember who walked into the room five minutes before, but can
remember their childhood friend from 50 years ago.
Implicit memory is sometimes referred to as unconscious memory or
automatic memory. Implicit memory uses past experiences to remember
things without thinking about them. Musicians and professional athletes
are said to have superior ability to form procedural memories.
Procedural memory, which is a subset of implicit memory, is a part of the
long-term memory responsible for knowing how to do things, also
known as motor skills. You don't have to delve into your memory to
recall how to walk each time you take a step.
Some examples of procedural memory:

 Playing piano
 Ice skating

 Playing tennis

 Swimming

 Climbing stairs
While implicit memory requires little if any effort to recall, explicit
memory — sometimes referred to as declarative memory — requires a
more concerted effort to bring the surface. Declarative memory involves
both semantic and episodic memory.
While most people can tick off the days of the week from the time they
are in grade school — which is implicit memory — it takes explicit
memory to remember that your mother's birthday is next Wednesday.
Semantic memory is not connected to personal experience. Semantic
memory includes things that are common knowledge, such as the names
of states, the sounds of letters, the capitals of countries and other basic
facts that are not in question. Some examples of semantic memory
include:
 Knowledge that the sky is blue

 Knowing how to use a knife and fork

 Remembering what dog is

 Recalling that President Kennedy was assassinated on Nov. 22, 1963


Episodic memory is a person's unique recollections of a specific event or
an episode. People are usually able to associate particular details with an
episodic memory, such as how they felt, the time and place, and other
particulars. It is not clear as to why some memories of events in our lives
are committed to memory, while others don't get recorded, but
researchers believe that emotions play a critical role in what we
remember.
Some examples of episodic memory:

 Where you were and the people you were with when you found out
about the Challenger space shuttle disaster
 Your beach vacation last summer
 The first time you traveled by plane
 Your first day at a new job
 The restaurant you went to on your first date with your spouse

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