Stages of Memory

Stages of Memory

According to the most acceptable model of memory, there are three major systems of memory :

}  The Sensory Memory;

}  Short-term memory(STM), and

}   Long-Term Memory(LTM).

Sensory memory

Sensory memory is the shortest-term element of memory. It is the ability to retain impressions of sensory information after the original stimuli have ended. It acts as a kind of buffer for stimuli received through the five senses of sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch, which are retained accurately, but very briefly

Sensory memory holds representations of sensory input for brief periods of time, depending upon the modality involved.  There are different sensory registers for each of the senses.  The visual register is called iconic memory and auditory register, echoic memory.  The iconic memory lasts about half a second and the echoic memory lasts several seconds.  Most of the information that enters our sensory registers is lost because we do not attend to all that is registered, whatever we attend to moves on to the next stage of memory.

}  Visual sensory memory—brief memory of an image or icon.  Also called iconic memory.

}  Auditory sensory memory—brief memory of a sound or echo.  Also called echoic memory.

}  Auditory sensory memories may last a bit longer than visual sensory memories

In this memory , the retention time is extremely brief. Old sensory impressions are disappear as they are erased by new memory. Here we learn a thing immediately with speed and accuracy, remember it for a short duration and forget it rapidly after usage.

Short-term memory

A second type of memory is known as short-term memory or STM. It holds relatively small amounts of information for brief periods of time, usually 30 seconds or less. Where sensory data is first transmitted to for processing and evaluation   This is the  memory system we use when we look up at the phone number and dial it. If we are connected on the first instance the telephone number is forgotten. However, if we get the line engaged for some time, we keep on dialing the number and through repeated dialing rehearsal of the telephone number pushes it to the long-term memory (LTM) storage.

Short term Memory holds small amounts of information briefly. Working Memory is the another name for STM

·         Selective Attention: Focusing (voluntarily) on a selected portion of sensory input (e.g., selective hearing)

·         Phonetically: Storing information by sound; how most things are stored in STM by sound (phonetically)

Long - Term Memory (LTM)

It is a memory system for the retention of large amounts of information for long periods of time. It is the memory system that permits us to remember events that happened many years ago, yesterday, last year, and so on.  It is the long term memory that allows you to remember factual information that makes it possible for us to LTM codes information according to meaning, pattern and other characteristics  learn different subjects, appear in the examinations and perform communication with others etc. It brings continuity and meaning in our life. Storing information relatively permanently . Stored on basis of meaning and importance.

Long-term memory is often divided into two further main types: explicit (or declarative) memory and implicit (or procedural) memory.

Declarative memory (“knowing what”) is memory of facts and events, and refers to those memories that can be consciously recalled (or "declared"). It is sometimes called explicit memory, since it consists of information that is explicitly stored and retrieved, although it is more properly a subset of explicit memory. Declarative memory can be further sub-divided into episodic memory and semantic memory.

Procedural memory (“knowing how”) is the unconscious memory of skills and how to do things, particularly the use of objects or movements of the body, such as tying a shoelace, playing a guitar or riding a bike. These memories are typically acquired through repetition and practice, and are composed of automatic sensorimotor behaviours that are so deeply embedded that we are no longer aware of them. Once learned, these "body memories" allow us to carry out ordinary motor actions more or less automatically. Procedural memory is sometimes referred to as implicit memory, because previous experiences aid in the performance of a task without explicit and conscious awareness of these previous experiences, although it is more properly a subset of implicit memory.

Episodic and semantic memory

Episodic memory is connected with episodes and events. It my consist of personal events and experiences associated with one’s life. What event has happened during one’s life is stored in the shape of episodic memory traces organized according to time ,space and other  characteristics.   Thus episodic memory is the memory which depends on retrieving the particular events or episodes experienced by a person through his direct or indirect experiences. Semantic memory helps in storing as well as retrieving a collection of relationships between events or association of ideas.

Semantic memory is based on general knowledge coupled with meaningful interpretation, generalized rules, principles and formulae. Eg CO2, name of capital of the state. Semantic memory impressions are more or less permanent. Their recall does not necessarily depends on the retrieval of some specific episodes from the past.  Semantic memory is not as personal as episodic . Eg meaning of the symbol CO2, name of capital of the state are common to each individuals semantic memory

Photographic memory

The term Photographic memory stands for a kind of memory possessed by an individual who can remember a scene in photographic detail. The technical term used for such memory is eidetic imagery 

Paranormal memory

This distinctive and unusual type of memory, popularly known as reincarnation has emerged as result of research in the filed of psychology. This memory reflects an individuals regression not only in terms of time but also in terms of space and matter.