What´s the Human Memory?

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Memory may be defined as the process of preserving information over an extended period of time. One uses memory in order to look back at past learning experiences in order assist with their future. Past experiences change how individuals behave and may influence the way they think. Memory is the name given to the structures and processes that are involved in storage and successful retrieval or recall of information (Zemach, 1968). In psychology the term memory, involves three different components of the information processing system; encoding, storage and retrieval (Atkinson & Shiffrin, 1968).

When an individual acquires information it is processed into the memory system and must be manipulated into a form the system is capable of understanding in order for storage to take place. This information is then stored in the long term or episodic memory and is known as encoding (Baddeley, 1975). There are three ways in which information may be encoded; visual (imagery), acoustic (sound) and semantic (meaning) (Baddeley & Hitch, 1974). Acoustic coding is suggested to be the main or principle coding system concerning short-term memory (STM). If someone were to be presented with a list stating various letters or numbers, the information will be held in the STM, which would occur through rehearsal. This is a verbal process irrespective of whether the items are represented acoustically (being read out), or visually (on a piece of paper). The dominant encoding system involved in the long-term memory (LTM) however, is suggested to be semantic coding (Baddeley, 1975). Information in the LTM may be encoded visually as well as acoustically.

Memory storage is concerned with where information is stored, the extent of time the memory lasts for, th...

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... and involves the individual obtaining the same state of consciousness as when the memory was developed (Baddeley, 1975). This term is often referred to in situations where a stimulus has been used (e.g. caffeine or alcohol) in order to create a specific state of consciousness. This differs from context-dependent learning (which refers to external conditions), as state-dependent learning involves internal conditions (Baddeley, 1975). For example, context dependent learning may refer to completing an exam a similar room or setting in which the individual studied, which would assist in retrieval of those memories. State dependent learning refers to the thought that if one were to always study for an exam while under the influence of a certain stimulus, such as caffeine, that person would have a higher change at being able to retrieve the information they had studied.

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