"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."
This topic covers the process of encoding, storing, and retrieving information.
Short-term memory: The temporary storage of information in consciousness. Limited in capacity and duration.
Long-term memory: The permanent storage of information in the brain. Unlimited in capacity and duration.
Encoding: The process of transforming sensory information into a form that can be stored in memory.
Storage: The retention of encoded information over time.
Retrieval: The process of accessing stored information when needed.
Sensory memory: Very brief storage of sensory information in its original sensory form.
Working memory: The part of short-term memory that is responsible for temporarily holding information while performing mental operations.
Chunking: The process of grouping information into meaningful units to aid in memory recall.
Rehearsal: Mental or verbal repetition of information to aid in memory retention.
Episodic memory: Memory for specific events or experiences.
Semantic memory: Memory for facts and general knowledge.
Procedural memory: Memory for how to do things, such as riding a bike or typing.
Amnesia: Loss of memory due to brain damage, disease, or psychological trauma.
Forgetting: The inability to retrieve previously stored information.
Interference: The phenomenon where previously stored information interferes with the processing of new information.
Memory consolidation: The process of stabilizing and strengthening new memories over time.
Working memory capacity: The amount of information that can be held and manipulated in working memory.
Serial position effect: The phenomenon where the position of an item in a list affects how well it is remembered.
Context-dependent memory: The phenomenon where memory recall is better when the person is in the same context as when the information was learned.
State-dependent memory: The phenomenon where memory recall is better when the person is in the same physiological state as when the information was learned.
"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."