Memory and processing, sensory and short-term memory

Memory

Memory encompasses the processes we use to encode, store, and retrieve information.

Encoding: This is the first stage where sensory input is converted into forms that can be processed and stored in the brain.

There are several types of encoding:

Semantic encoding processes words and their meanings, as demonstrated in experiments where people tend to remember words grouped by similar meanings.
Visual encoding deals with images. Concrete, high-imagery words like ‘car’ or ‘book’ are easier to recall than abstract words like ‘truth’ or ‘value’ because they can be pictorially represented.
Acoustic encoding involves the encoding of sounds, useful in educational rhymes or songs that facilitate learning.
Tactile encoding relies on the sense of touch, helping to remember textures like the feel of velvet.

The role of the hippocampus: Located in the temporal lobe, the hippocampus plays a critical role in processing all types of sensory information. It helps link new memories with existing ones and is crucial for memory consolidation—transforming new information into long-term memory. Damage to this area, such as in the case of the patient H.M., can prevent the formation of new declarative memories, while leaving older memories intact.

Memory aids and strategies:

Mnemonic devices: These are techniques that aid in organizing and remembering information, such as using acronyms or rhymes.
Rehearsal: Repeating information to embed it in memory.
Chunking: Breaking down information into smaller, manageable units.
Elaborative rehearsal: Connecting new information to knowledge already stored in memory.
Depth of processing: Information processed at a deeper level, especially with personal relevance, tends to be more memorable.
Hierarchies: Organizing information logically enhances memory retention.

Storage: After encoding, information moves through several stages of storage:

Sensory memory: Initial, temporary storage for incoming sensory information.

Short-term (working) memory: Active processing of information to retain it temporarily.

Long-term memory: The final, more permanent stage of memory, where information can be stored indefinitely.

Memory processes such as the primacy effect (better recall of initial information) and the recency effect (better recall of the most recent information