"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 processes by which we acquire and store information. Learn about the different types of memory, how memories are formed, and the neural mechanisms underlying learning.
Neurobiology of memory: Understanding the anatomical and physiological aspects of memory formation and retrieval.
Types of Memory: The different classifications of memory including episodic, semantic, procedural, and working memory.
Memory Encoding: The process of converting sensory information into a form that can be stored in memory.
Memory Consolidation: The process of strengthening and stabilizing memories to prevent their decay over time.
Memory Retrieval: The process of recalling or accessing stored memories.
Forgetting: The mechanisms by which memories can be lost or forgotten.
Neural plasticity: The ability of the brain to change and adapt in response to new experiences or information.
Learning: The process of acquiring new information or skills.
Conditioned learning: The process of forming associations between stimuli (e.g. Pavlov's dogs).
Habituation and sensitization: The process by which an organism's response to a stimulus changes over time.
Reward and punishment: The role of positive and negative feedback in learning and motivation.
Memory and emotion: The relationship between emotional states and memory formation and retrieval.
Brain networks and memory: Understanding how different brain regions interact in memory processing.
Neurotransmitters and memory: The role of chemical messengers in controlling memory functions.
Memory disorders: Understanding the causes and treatments of memory-related conditions such as Alzheimer's disease and amnesia.
Sensory memory: This type of memory is responsible for briefly storing sensory information from our environment, including visual, auditory, and tactile sensations. Sensory memory has a very limited duration and capacity.
Short-term memory: Also known as working memory, this type of memory allows us to hold onto information for a brief period while we process it or manipulate it mentally. Short-term memory has a limited capacity, typically holding around 5-9 pieces of information.
Long-term memory: This type of memory is responsible for storing information over a longer period, from minutes to years. Long-term memory can be further divided into two main types: declarative memory (for facts, events, concepts) and non-declarative memory (for skills, habits, emotions).
Episodic memory: This type of declarative memory involves the ability to recall past events, such as personal experiences and life events.
Semantic memory: This type of declarative memory involves the storage of knowledge about the world, including facts, concepts, and meanings.
Procedural memory: This type of non-declarative memory involves the learning of motor skills and habits, such as how to ride a bike or play an instrument.
Classical conditioning: This type of associative learning involves the association of two stimuli, resulting in a learned response. For example, associating the sound of a bell with the arrival of food may result in the salivation response when hearing the bell alone.
Operant conditioning: This type of learning involves the association of a behavior with its consequences. Positive consequences (rewards) increase the likelihood of the behavior being repeated, while negative consequences (punishments) decrease the likelihood of the behavior being repeated.
Observational learning: This type of learning involves the acquisition of new behaviors and skills through observation and imitation of others.
Spatial memory: This type of memory is specialized for the encoding and retrieval of information about spatial relationships, including the location of objects and landmarks in the environment.
"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."