MEMORY

Lesson Objectives
At the end of the lesson, each learner should:

Be able to define the term ‘Memory’

Become familiar with the process of memorizing information

Identify and have a basic understanding of the types of Memories

that exist
 Lesson Objectives
Become aware of contributing factors of forgetting and the
theories associated with it

Know why Memory is important in Psychology

Become aware of the varying Memory Disorders and

Learn how memory can be improved.

 What is Memory?
Memory is the retention of, and ability to recall, information,
personal experiences, and procedures (skills and habits).

Memory is not located on one particular part of the brain but

instead there is a brain wide process in which different parts of the
brain work in conjunction with one another known as the
distributing process.
Stages of The Memory Process
 Stage 1 of the Memory Process
Encoding:
This is the process of receiving, processing, and combining
information.

 Encoding allows information from the outside world to reach our

senses in the forms of chemical and physical stimuli.

In this first stage we must change the information so that we may
put the memory into the encoding process.
 Stage 2 of the Memory Process

Storage:
Storage has to do with the creation of a permanent record of the
encoded information.

It concerns the nature of memory stores, i.e., where the information is
stored, how long the memory lasts for (duration), how much can be
stored at any time (capacity) and what kind of information is held.
 Stage 3 of the Memory Process

Retrieval (Recall or Recognition):

The third process is the retrieval of information that we have stored
in response to some cue for use in a process or activity.

We must locate it and return it to our consciousness.

If we can’t remember something, it may be because we are unable to

retrieve it.
 Human Memory

Sensory Memory Short-Term Memory Long-Term Memory

Explicit Memory Implicit Memory

(Declarative Memory) (Procedural Memory)

Semantic Episodic Autobiographical Visual

Memory Memory Memory Memory
 Sensory Memory
The role of sensory memory is to provide a detailed representation of
our entire sensory experience for which relevant pieces of information
are extracted by short-term memory and processed by working
memory.

Our sensory systems are constantly receiving and processing an

incredible amount of information at any given moment. As we go
through our day, it is virtually impossible to consciously recognize all
of this information. Stop and think for a moment about what you are
doing right now.
 Sensory Memory
Your eyes are taking in the visual information of the light in the room,
the letters and words that comprise this lesson and all the things that
are going on in your peripheral vision simultaneously.

Even if you're in a relatively quiet room, if you stop and really listen
you will hear that there are quite a few noises and sounds occurring all
around you.
 Short Term Memory
Short-term memory only lasts 20 to 30 seconds. It stores information
temporarily and then either dismisses it or transfers it to long-term
memory.

It is also sometimes called working memory, although working

memory is more specific to information that we receive, use quickly,
then discard.
 For example, a phone number, a person’s name, or what you’re going to
buy from the market are stored in your short-term working memory for
just as long as it takes you to use it.
 Long Term Memory
Our long-term memories are a bit more complex than our short-term memories. Anything
that happened more than a few minutes ago would be stored in long-term memory.
 Depending on how often we recall or use a certain piece of information, the strength of
the memory varies.

Long-term memory can store much larger quantities of information for potentially
unlimited duration.
 Types of Long Term Memories
Long-term memory is often divided into two further main types:
Implicit (or procedural) Memory and
Explicit (or declarative) Memory

Implicit: Long-term memories of conditioned responses and learned

skills, e.g., driving.

This kind of memory is both unconscious and unintentional.

Implicit memory is also sometimes referred to as nondeclarative memory

since you are not able to consciously bring it into awareness.
 Types of Long Term Memories
Explicit: The conscious, intentional recollection of factual information,
previous experiences, and concepts.

Explicit Memory also accounts for the following types of memories:

 Semantic Memory – This refers to the long-term memory that
processes ideas and concepts that are not drawn from personal
experience. It includes things that are common knowledge, such as
the names of colors, the sounds of letters, and other basic facts.
 Types of Long Term Memories
 Episodic Memory – This type of memory is used for more contextualized
memories. They are generally memories of specific moments, or episodes, in
one’s life. As such, they include sensations and emotions associated with the
event, in addition to the who, what, where, and when of what happened.

 Autobiographical Memory – This is a memory system consisting of episodes

recollected from an individual's life or personal history.

 Visual Memory – This is the ability to remember information that have been
viewed in the past.
 Theories of Forgetting
Retrieval Failure: The inability to retrieve a memory is one of the
most common causes of forgetting. Research done, stated that the
possible explanation of retrieval failure is known as Decay Theory.

Decay Theory: Forgetting is due to normal metabolic processes

that occur in the brain over time.

Encoding Failure: The information never got to long-term

memory because it was not properly encoded.
 Theories of Forgetting
Motivated Forgetting: There are memories or traumatic moments that we
force ourselves to forget. We either suppress or repress.
 Suppression is the conscious form of forgetting.
 Repression is an unconscious form of forgetting.

Interference: This method suggests that once information is stored, previous

memory will compete or interfere with new memory.
 Proactive Interference - Old information interferes with new.
 Retroactive Interference - New information interferes with old.
 The Importance of Memory in Psychology
Memorization is discipline for the mind—much needed in an age
when so many minds are lazy, distracted, have little to think about, or
think sloppily. Memorization helps train the mind to focus and be
industrious.

Memorization creates the repertoire of what we think about. Nobody

can think in a vacuum of information. To be an expert in any field
requires knowledge that you already have.
 The Importance of Memory in Psychology
We think with the ideas held in working memory which can only be
accessed at high speed from the brain’s stored memory. Understanding
is nourished by the information you hold in working memory as you
think. Without such knowledge, we have a mind full of mush.

The exercise of the memory develops learning and memory

schema that promote improved ability to learn. The more you
remember, the more you can learn.
 Activity

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbcfdrJbRBg
 Memory Disorders
Memory disorders are disorders of cognition, the ability to reason,
remember, make decisions and communicate.
Memory disorders can be caused by one or more factors, including:
Aging
Trauma
Substance Abuse
Heredity (inheriting genes associated with Alzheimer’s or
Huntington’s disease)
Narrowing of the arteries that provide blood flow to the brain
Cardiovascular Disease
 Memory Disorders
Untreated infectious or metabolic disease
Brain Tumors
Vitamin Deficiencies.

Some types of memory disorders can appear suddenly, while others

may be present years before symptoms become apparent.

A skilled neurologist can help determine whether the progression of

a memory disorder can be slowed or even reversed entirely.
 Memory Disorders
Alzheimer’s Disease: The most common form of dementia (memory
loss) caused by changes to nerves in the brain that become tangled,
form plaques, and lose their connections to other nerves. Alzheimer’s
disease gets worse over time.

Vascular Dementia: Decreased or blocked blood flow damages brain

tissue. This is the second-most common form of dementia after
Alzheimer’s disease.

Dementia with Lewy Bodies: As brain tissue breaks down, abnormal

protein deposits called Lewy bodies form, causing dementia symptoms.
 Memory Disorders
Frontotemporal Dementia: A condition that affects nerve cells in the
frontal and temporal lobes of the brain. As the cells die, the lobes
shrink.

Mild Cognitive Impairment: You or your family may notice changes

or a decline in your memory, language, thinking or judgments, but
this does not interfere with your regular activities.

Mixed Dementia: A combination of dementia symptoms caused by

Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia.
 Symptoms of Memory Disorders
Memory problems and dementia from Alzheimer’s disease and other
conditions tend to show up in stages as the disease progresses.

A sudden onset of symptoms may also occur.

Symptoms of Memory Disorders Include:
Confusion Paranoia
Repeating questions
Inability to communicate
Trouble with reasoning
Inability to learn new things
Wandering or getting lost
Language problems
 Trouble managing money or
Memory loss paying bills
 How to Improve Your Memory
According to a study done by (Cafasso,2018) there are a few ways in
which we can improve our memory.
 Learn something new.
 Retrieve and repeat.
 Try acronyms, abbreviations and mnemonics(song, rhyme, acronym,
image, phrase, or sentence).
 Group or trunk information.
 Construct a mind palace.
 Use all of your senses.
 How to Improve Your Memory
 Don’t turn to google right away
 Stay organized.
 Sleep on a regular schedule.
 Avoid bright screens before bed.
 Get physical.
 Manage stress.
 Socialize.
 Drink water.
 Enjoy nature
Question and Answers
 References
 (n.d.). Retrieved November 17, 2020, from https://study.com/academy/lesson/sensory-memory-definition-examples-types.html

 Boundless. (n.d.). Boundless Psychology. Retrieved November 17, 2020, from

https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-psychology/chapter/introduction-to-memory/

 Carrol, R. (2011). What is memory? Retrieved from http://skeptic.com

 Klemm, W. (2013, January 12). Five Reasons That Memory Matters. Retrieved November 17, 2020, from
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/memory-medic/201301/five-reasons-memory-matters

 McLeod, S.A. (2013). Stages of memory. Retrieved from http://simplypyschology.org/memory.html

 Neuroscience - Memory Disorders: Premier Health. (n.d.). Retrieved November 17, 2020, from
https://www.premierhealth.com/services/neuroscience/memory-disorders

 Understanding Memory Disorders. (n.d.). Retrieved November 17, 2020, from https://www.uchealth.com/memory-disorders/conditions/

 William Kang'u Follow. (2016, June 17). The human memory. Retrieved November 17, 2020, from
https://www.slideshare.net/williamkangu/the-human-memory-63178868