ED 304: Ed Psych and Human Development

Author: Melinda Newson

Disclaimer: ChatGPT was used in the creation of this source

Memory refers to the cognitive process of encoding, storing, and retrieving information in the brain. It involves the ability to retain and recall past experiences, knowledge, skills, and events. Memory is crucial for learning, problem-solving, decision-making, and various other cognitive functions.

There are several stages of memory:

1. Encoding: The process of converting sensory information into a form that can be stored in memory. It involves paying attention to the information and transforming it into a meaningful representation.
2. Storage: The retention of encoded information over time. Information can be stored in various memory systems, including sensory memory, short-term memory, and long-term memory. Each system has different capacities and durations for holding information.
3. Retrieval: The process of accessing and recalling stored information from memory. Retrieval can be influenced by various factors, such as cues, context, and the strength of the memory trace.

Memory can be further categorized into different types:

1. Sensory Memory: It holds sensory information from the environment for a very brief period. It allows us to perceive and process the world around us, but the information quickly fades unless it is attended to and transferred to short-term memory.
2. Short-Term Memory: Also known as working memory, it temporarily stores and manipulates information that is currently in use. It has limited capacity and is involved in tasks such as problem-solving, decision-making, and comprehension.
3. Long-Term Memory: It is responsible for storing information over an extended period. Long-term memory has a vast capacity and can hold knowledge, skills, personal experiences, and facts accumulated over a lifetime.

Long-term memory can be further divided into two main types:

• Explicit Memory: Also known as declarative memory, it involves conscious recollection and the ability to explicitly retrieve and describe information. It includes episodic memory (personal experiences) and semantic memory (general knowledge and facts).
• Implicit Memory: This type of memory is unconscious and does not require conscious effort for retrieval. It includes procedural memory (skills and routines) and priming (previous exposure influencing behavior without awareness).