The short-term memory stores almost all the information received at some point in time on the senses. However, in this form, it is not stored for long: only a few seconds. If people cannot hold information in short-term memory, working memory cannot process such information. As far as long-term memory is concerned, the creation of new memories will be impaired since the transfer of data from the STM to the LTM cannot be performed correctly (McBride & Cutting, 2018). However, it is possible to recover memories that were previously formed in long-term memory. It is a brain mechanism by which people can encode and store an almost unlimited amount of information over a long time (McBride & Cutting, 2018). The storage life of memories in long-term memory can vary from a few seconds to several years.
Working memory (WM) also helps to combine data from the senses with long-term and short-term memory. According to the Baddeley and Hitch model, WM consists of three systems and includes components for both storing and processing information. The central control acts like an attention-monitoring system, while the phonological loop makes it possible to retain written and spoken material in one’s memory (McBride & Cutting, 2018). Visuospatial sketchpad helps to manage and store visual information. The episodic buffer is used to combine data from the phonological loop and the visual-spatial sketch.
The difference between working and short-term memory is that the former allows the stored information to be manipulated. LTM has its limitations, which, however, can be adjusted. For example, an experiment conducted on infants, the essence of which was in memorizing a fragment of a video, demonstrates that this type of memory can be developed (Nakano & Kitazawa, 2017). There is an increase in the duration of storage of a specific memory in the human brain in this case.
I think that the weakest aspect of my memory is storing the data. At this stage, the information that the brain encoded earlier is recorded. The data obtained is transferred from short-term memory to long-term memory. I do not always remember characters’ names or critical events when I read literature. It seems like my brain refuses to store this information; I quickly forget about what I just read. Research shows that taking a few minutes to rest while reading and thinking about what is read can help one remember more. The brain must be given time to consolidate all incoming information and interpret it (McBride & Cutting, 2018). If I follow this method, I think I can improve my skill of storing data in the brain.
The German psychotherapist Schulte’s tables help those looking for a way to improve memory and attention. Exercises with such tables are great for visual learners. I think practicing with such tables will help me improve my memory. Moreover, I perceive visual information most effectively, and therefore this method is suitable for me. For training short-term memory and information storage, meditations are great. Since meditation increases the amount of gray matter in the brain, it helps even older adults experience memory recovery (McBride & Cutting, 2018). In addition, the practice of meditation has a positive effect on the entire body. In the past, I tried to meditate, and back then, I felt how much easier it was for me to memorize the data and for a long time.
References
McBride, D. M., & Cutting, J. C. (2018). Cognitive psychology: Theory, process, and methodology (2nd edition). SAGE Publications.
Nakano, T., & Kitazawa, S. (2017). Development of long-term event memory in preverbal infants: An eye-tracking study. Scientific Reports, 7, 44086. Web.