"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."
Memory refers to the encoding, storing, and retrieval of information in the mind.
Short-term and long-term memory: Short-term memory involves the immediate recall of information, whereas long-term memory involves the storage of information for extended periods of time.
Encoding: The process of converting sensory information into a memory representation that can be stored and retrieved.
Retrieval: The process of accessing stored memories for use in current tasks or situations.
Consolidation: The process by which memories are stabilized and strengthened in the brain over time.
Working memory: A type of short-term memory that allows individuals to maintain and manipulate information for use in a current task.
Amnesia: A condition in which an individual is unable to recall or retain new information due to damage to the brain.
Forgetting: The inability to retrieve previously stored information.
Memory biases: Tendencies to distort or alter memories based on individual beliefs, experiences, or prejudices.
Recognition memory: The ability to identify previously encountered stimuli.
Recollection memory: The ability to retrieve specific details about previously encountered stimuli.
Context-dependent memory: The phenomenon in which memories are easier to retrieve when a person is in the same context or environment as when the memory was first encoded.
Mnemonic devices: Strategies used to aid memory retention, such as acronyms or mental imagery.
Retroactive interference: A phenomenon in which new information disrupts the retrieval of old information.
Proactive interference: A phenomenon in which old information disrupts the retrieval of new information.
Autobiographical memory: The memories of personal experiences and events that an individual has experienced over their lifetime.
Eyewitness testimony: The use of memory to provide information about a crime or event witnessed by an individual.
Flashbulb memory: The vivid recollection of a significant event, often including sensory details and emotional experiences.
Cognitive load: The amount of mental effort required to process information and complete a task, which can impact memory formation and retention.
Aging and memory: The changes in memory function and abilities that occur as individuals age.
Brain regions and memory: The role of various brain regions, such as the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, in memory processing and retention.
Sensory Memory: This is the type of memory that holds information from the senses for a brief period, usually less than a second.
Iconic Memory: A type of sensory memory that specifically deals with visual information.
Echoic Memory: A type of sensory memory that specifically deals with auditory information.
Short-term Memory: This type of memory holds information for a brief period, usually around 20-30 seconds, and has a limited capacity.
Working Memory: This type of memory is similar to short-term memory but is actively involved in manipulating information, such as solving a mental math problem.
Long-term Memory: This type of memory holds information for an extended period, potentially indefinitely.
Explicit Memory: Also known as declarative memory, this type of long-term memory involves conscious recollection of specific events or facts.
Episodic Memory: A specific type of explicit memory that involves recalling personal experiences.
Semantic Memory: A specific type of explicit memory that involves recalling general knowledge and facts.
Implicit Memory: This type of long-term memory involves unconscious retention of information, meaning that you don't have to consciously think about it to remember it.
Procedural Memory: A specific type of implicit memory that involves knowing how to perform physical or cognitive tasks, such as riding a bike.
Emotional Memory: A specific type of implicit memory that involves retaining emotional reactions to events.
Flashbulb Memory: A specific type of long-term memory that involves remembering dramatically significant events, such as 9/11.
Retrieval Memory: The process of accessing previously stored information from memory.
Recognition Memory: The ability to correctly identify previously encountered information.
Recall Memory: The ability to retrieve information from memory without any cues or prompts.
Relearning Memory: The ability to learn something more quickly the second time around, indicating prior storage in long-term memory.
"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."