Memory
This articleabouthuman memory. For memory asstorage-device, see computer memory
Memoryone ofactivities ofhuman mind, much studied by cognitive psychology. It iscapacityretain an impressionpast experiences. Theremultiple typesclassificationsmemory based on duration, natureretrievalperceived items.
The main stages informationretrievalmemory, from an information processing perspective, are:
- Encoding (processingreceived information by acquisition)
- Storage (buildingpermanent recordreceived information asresultconsolidation)
- Retrieval (calling backstored informationuseinsuitable wayexecutegiven task)
When wegivenseven digit number, we can rememberonly forfew secondsthen forget (short term memory). Onother hand we remember our telephone numbers, since we have storedin our brain afterperiodsconsolidation (long term memory).
The definitionworking memory, whicherroneously used assynonymshort-term memory,based on not onlydurationmemory retention but alsoway how ituseddaily life activities. For instance, when weaskedmultiply 454our head, we haveperformseriessimple calculations (additionmultiplications)givefinal answer. The processkeepingmind all these informations forshort periodtimecalled working memory.
Another good example ischess player, whoplayingmultiple opponents atsame timetryingrememberpositionspiecesall gamesusing this informationmakegood move, when required.
Long-term memory can further be classified as declarative (explicit)procedural (implicit).
Explicit memory requires conscious recall,other wordsinformation must be called back consciously when itrequired. If this informationabout our own lives (what we atebreakfastthis morning, our birth date etc.), itcalled episodic memory, ifconcerns our knowledge aboutworld (capitalFrance, presidentsUS etc.), then itcalled semantic memory.
Implicit memorynot based onconscious recallinformation storedour brain, but onhabituation or sensitizationlearned facts. We perform better ingiven task each time we repeattask, thatwe use our implicit memory without necessarily rememberingprevious experiences but usingpreviously learned behaviours unconsciously.
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Neurophysiologybiochemistrymemory
The fieldsneurophysiologybiochemistry have made some advances inunderstandingmemory.
Critical locationsmemoryamygdala, hippocampus, fornix, mammillary bodies, thalamus, hypothalamus as well ascerebral cortex
Complementary encoding theory stipulates that some circuits (e.g.hippocampus)usedfastspecific encoding, while generalized overlapping representationsstored inneocortex. Many researchers believe that encodinglong lasting neocortical memories occurs during sleep. Recent advancesneural network research makepossibleunderstand memory consolidationretrieval incomputational sense.
A hypothesized celluar basismemorylearning,which theresome evidence, involves strengthening ofsynapses that link nerve cells (or neurons). Thisknown asHebbian theory, afterCanadian neuropsychologist Donald O. Hebb.
It has been asserted that GABA signals interfere withregistrationconsolidation stagesmemory formation. AsGABA systemfound inhippocampus, whichthoughtplaylarge rolememory formation, thisthoughtbe possible.
Related topics
- Mnemonics help peopleeasily remember various things.
- In Norse mythologyconceptmemoryencapsulated withinmessenger ravenOdin named Munin.
- The Greek mythological personificationMnemosyne.
- Eidetic memory - popularly called "photographic memory" or "the inabilityforget"
