A basic mental function that enables us to store and retrieve information is memory. It is the basis for both our capacity to learn and engage with the outside world. Encoding, storage, and retrieval are only a few of the cognitive processes that go into memory, which is a complicated process. For psychologists, memory is crucial since it is important in many fields, including cognitive psychology, therapeutic practice, and education. Speech, learning, and focus can all be negatively impacted by memory disorders like amnesia, but many of these problems can be resolved with the right diagnosis and treatment. Studying memory and its problems is crucial for psychologists since it has significant ramifications for many other professions. This essay examines short- and long-term memory and memory disorders.
Short-term memory and long-term memory are the two main categories of memory. Information that is temporarily stored in the brain for up to a minute is referred to as short-term memory. It is in charge of storing data that we are actively processing, such as a recently phoned phone number. Long-term memory, on the other hand, refers to the storing of data for a protracted period of time, ranging from hours to a lifetime (Ettinger, R. H., & Reed, 2019, p. 272). Explicit memory and implicit memory are further categories of long-term memory. Implicit memory refers to the unintentional impact of prior experiences on our actions, whereas explicit memory is the conscious recall of past events. Encoding is the first phase of memory. The process of transforming sensory data into a format that the brain can comprehend and store is referred to as encoding. Attention, curiosity, and relevance are a few factors that have an impact on this process. For instance, we are more likely to encode information about a topic if we are interested in it. The encoding process, which decides what information is kept and how it is structured, is essential for the subsequent stages of memory.
Storage is the second step of the process of memory. Information retention over time is referred to as storage. Repetition, elaboration, and arrangement are a few characteristics that have an impact on the storage process (Maddox et al., 2019). Rehearsing information repeatedly helps it to stay in memory and is referred to as repetition. Elaboration is the process of connecting new information to previously learned material in order to improve information storage and retrieval. Information categorization, which makes it easier to save and retrieve data, is referred to as organization (Maddox et al., 2019). Retrieval is the last stage of memory retrieval; it is the process of gaining access to saved data when necessary. Context, emotion, and cues are just a few of the variables that have an impact on retrieval. Being in the same setting as the event, for instance, could make it easier to recall facts from that experience. Similarly to this, recall can be improved by being in the same frame of mind as when the knowledge was stored. Finally, stimuli like sounds, smells, or visuals might cause the recall of previously stored data.
The capacity to store and retrieve information from memory is impacted by memory disorders. These illnesses can range in severity from mild to severe, and they can significantly affect daily life by impairing speech, learning, and concentration. For example, a memory condition called amnesia is characterized by a partial or total loss of recollection (Calderon-Garcidueñas & Duyckaerts, 2018). Numerous circumstances, such as a head injury, stroke, or brain infection, might contribute to this illness. Both short-term and long-term memory can be impacted by amnesia, which in some situations can be either transient or permanent. Amnesia symptoms can include forgetting recent experiences, having trouble learning new knowledge, or having trouble identifying familiar faces or locations (Calderon-Garcidueñas & Duyckaerts, 2018). Depending on the underlying cause, treatment options for forgetfulness may include medication, cognitive behavioral therapy, or brain stimulation procedures like transcranial magnetic stimulation. For many years, psychologists, neuroscientists, and cognitive scientists have been heavily interested in the study of memory. Understanding how we learn and retain information, how memories are formed and consolidated, and how various types of memories are kept and retrieved have all been made possible thanks to memory research.
In conclusion, memory is a fundamental mental ability that is essential to our day-to-day existence. It incorporates different cognitive processes like encoding, storage, and retrieval, allowing us to learn and interact with the world around us. The two primary types of memory are short-term and long-term, and they are distinguished by their duration and the kind of information they store. In the memory process, encoding comes first, then storage and retrieval. Memory disorders, which can range in severity from mild to severe, can have a substantial negative influence on a person’s everyday life by reducing their capacity to recall information. However, many memory issues can be effectively controlled with the right diagnosis and care. Psychologists are crucial to the research of memory and memory impairments, which can have effects on therapeutic practice, cognitive psychology, and sectors like education. In the end, memory is a crucial component of human cognition, and more investigation into its complexity will help us learn more about how the mind works.
References
Calderon-Garcidueñas, A. L., & Duyckaerts, C. (2018). Alzheimer disease. Handbook of Clinical Neurology, 145, 325-337. Web.
Ettinger, R. H., & Reed, G. A. (2019). Psychology: The science of behavior (6th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education.
Maddox, S. A., Hartmann, J., Ross, R. A., & Ressler, K. J. (2019). Deconstructing the gestalt: mechanisms of fear, threat, and trauma memory encoding. Neuron, 102(1), 60-74. Web.