"Memory is the faculty of the mind by which data or information is encoded, stored, and retrieved when needed. It is the retention of information over time for the purpose of influencing future action."
The mental capacity to encode, store, and retrieve information.
Short-term memory: This is the ability to hold information in your mind for a brief period, usually up to 30 seconds. It is important because without it, we would not be able to perform many everyday tasks.
Long-term memory: This refers to the storage of information over an extended period of time. It is essential for learning, and without it, we would not be able to retain knowledge and skills.
Working memory: This is the cognitive system that processes and manipulates information during complex tasks. It is important for activities requiring multitasking or problem-solving.
Encoding: This is the process by which information is converted and stored in memory. It is influenced by attention, perception, and other factors.
Retrieval: This is the process by which stored information is accessed and brought back into consciousness. It is influenced by many factors, including similarity to previously learned information and context.
Forgetting: This is the phenomenon whereby information that was previously stored in memory becomes inaccessible. It can occur for various reasons, such as lack of use or interference from other memories.
Memory consolidation: This is the process whereby newly acquired information is converted into a stable and long-lasting form in memory. It is thought to involve both the strengthening of neural connections and the transfer of information to different regions of the brain.
Amnesia: This is a disorder in which there is partial or complete loss of memory. It can be caused by many factors, including head injury, disease, or psychological trauma.
Memory enhancement techniques: There are many strategies for improving one's memory, such as repeating information, making connections, and visualizing the material.
Memory in different cultures: Memory is influenced by social, cultural, and historical factors. Researchers have studied differences in memory across different cultures and how memory is used in particular cultural practices.
Episodic Memory: Memory of specific events, experiences, or episodes that have a time and place.
Semantic Memory: Memory of general knowledge, facts, and concepts that are not tied to a specific event or experience.
Procedural Memory: Memory of how to perform a specific task or skill, such as riding a bike, typing, or playing an instrument.
Implicit Memory: Memory that is not consciously recalled, such as how to walk or drive a car.
Explicit Memory: Memory that requires conscious effort or awareness to retrieve, such as recalling a name or a phone number.
Working Memory: Memory used to hold and manipulate information in the short term, such as remembering a phone number or a grocery list.
Long-Term Memory: Memory that persists over time, ranging from minutes to years.
Declarative Memory: Memory that can be consciously recalled and described, such as episodic and semantic memory.
Non-Declarative Memory: Memory that cannot be consciously recalled or described, such as procedural and implicit memory.
Autobiographical Memory: Memory of personal experiences and events that form one's life story.
Flashbulb Memory: Vivid and highly emotional memories of significant events that are often experienced as being "burned into memory.".
Spatial Memory: Memory of spatial information, such as the layout of a room, city, or landscape.
Source Memory: Memory of the source or context in which information was acquired, such as remembering where and from whom you heard a particular piece of information.
Prospective Memory: Memory of future intentions, plans, or tasks that need to be performed at a later time.
Eidetic Memory: Rare ability to vividly recall visual images and details of experiences with great detail and clarity.
"If past events could not be remembered, it would be impossible for language, relationships, or personal identity to develop."
"Memory loss is usually described as forgetfulness or amnesia."
"Memory is often understood as an informational processing system with explicit and implicit functioning that is made up of a sensory processor, short-term (or working) memory, and long-term memory."
"The sensory processor allows information from the outside world to be sensed in the form of chemical and physical stimuli and attended to various levels of focus and intent."
"Working memory serves as an encoding and retrieval processor. Information in the form of stimuli is encoded in accordance with explicit or implicit functions by the working memory processor."
"Finally, the function of long-term memory is to store through various categorical models or systems."
"Declarative, or explicit, memory is the conscious storage and recollection of data."
"Under declarative memory resides semantic and episodic memory. Semantic memory refers to memory that is encoded with specific meaning. Meanwhile, episodic memory refers to information that is encoded along a spatial and temporal plane."
"Non-declarative, or implicit, memory is the unconscious storage and recollection of information."
"An example of a non-declarative process would be the unconscious learning or retrieval of information by way of procedural memory, or a priming phenomenon."
"Priming is the process of subliminally arousing specific responses from memory and shows that not all memory is consciously activated, whereas procedural memory is the slow and gradual learning of skills that often occurs without conscious attention to learning."
"Memory is not a perfect processor, and is affected by many factors."
"Pain, for example, has been identified as a physical condition that impairs memory."
"The amount of attention given new stimuli can diminish the amount of information that becomes encoded for storage."
"Also, the storage process can become corrupted by physical damage to areas of the brain that are associated with memory storage, such as the hippocampus."
"Finally, the retrieval of information from long-term memory can be disrupted because of decay within long-term memory."
"Normal functioning, decay over time, and brain damage all affect the accuracy and capacity of the memory."