Free Essay

Stages of Memory

In:

Submitted By cald3632
Words 1042
Pages 5
STAGES OF MEMORY DWIGHT CALDWELL
Aspects of Pyschology-SSCI-1202B-01
Geoffery Hackert
AIU
May 17, 2012

The mind is designed to process thoughts, emotions and has the ability to maintain and reproduce memories. To fully understand the memory process one must look at how memory starts and how each stage is used to complete the process of memory. The model that this paper will discuss will provide definitions and examples of each stage and how the mind uses each to process each stage. The minds are somewhat like a Central Processing Unit that has the ability to multi-task and complete different assignments at a time. The first stage of memory is called sensory memory. This is when sensory information that comes from our five senses is stored for a brief period of time, which generally for no longer than a half-second for visual and information and 3 or 4 seconds for auditory information. We attend to only certain aspects of this sensory memory, allowing this information to pass into the next stage-short term memory (www.psychology.about.com/2012). An example of sensory memory would be a person smelling or tasting something that they did not like and being able to have a feeling of pleasure from the memory or a feeling of disgust because of the initial contact with the food or odor. Short-term memory also known as active memory, this is the process of information that we are aware of or are currently thinking about a certain thing. In language that is more common short-term memory is conscious mind. Sensory memories allow the short-term memory to generate the information in short-term memory (www.psycholgy.about.com/2012). Most of the memories in this stage memory will be kept for about 20 to 30 seconds. With short-term memory most memories are quickly forgotten, attending to this information allows it to continue on to the next stage called long-term memory. An example of short-term memory is reading a sentence quickly, holding the information for a short time, and then disappearing afterward.
Long-term memory is the continued usage and storage of information. This stage of memory is preconscious and unconscious. Information is used outside of our awareness, but can be called into working memory to be used when needed. Some information in this stage may be able to be access and at other times, it may be more difficult to process the memories. Long-term memory erodes overtime-causing memory loss (http://www.human-memory.net). Electrical impulses leap across gaps in our mind, which then releases chemicals called neurotransmitters. The transmitters then disperse across between cells and attach to other surrounding cells. This allows the brain to have millions of impulses that affect the entire mind with different impulses.
Within the brain, these charges are not set to act only one way. The brain is so powerful that different groups process different information within the structure of the brain. When it comes to proactive and retroactive interference this is when learned experience or information cannot be retrieved when needed because the prior information is blocking the needed information from being retrieved then the interference is working forward in time this is to be called proactive. Retroactive is when an individual cannot retrieve information because new information is now blocking the process this is called retroactive interference. Within these processes to get better results in long-term memory, one could use memory building and strengthening techniques. An example of this would be having a person remember a set of words along with other distractor words spelled backwards in order to facilitate the maximum absorption of information in long term memory (Gardiner,Craik &Britwhistle/1972). This allows the first words memorized to be remembered without having the proactive interference blocking the retrieval words that were being memorized. There are numerous terms and ways of forgetting within the sanctuary of memory. One form of forgetting is absentmindedness this is when people don’t pay close attention to what they are doing they then forget where they have placed there keys or neck tie. This is done because the brain did not process or encode the information enough to secure it within the memory bank. Another type of forgetting is Transience this can be defined as a use or lose type of memory. That is when the mind gets rid of information within the brain to make room for newer memories to replace the empty unused space that was created within the mind. The final and last form of forgetting is called Blocking. This is when a person does not encode information correctly and when trying to retrieve the information the ability to do so is not as strong as it would have been if the information were processed properly. An example of this is when a person is on the phone with someone and they call him or her the wrong name. Ways to build memory begins with an individual being able to believe that they are able to accomplish memorizing different things. One main way to build up confidence in believing that a person can remember is by not buying into the stereotype of society says is the way it is. As one gets older people tend to say that you will get sick lose your mind and eventually end up wearing a diaper before its time to check out. That is just a negative and low way to embrace what we call the golden years of life. Another way to help the mind remember is organize thoughts by priority. This helps by ensuring the most urgent and needed responsibilities are done first and the lesser following after that. This allows the mind to keep processing as a person is accomplishing goals and tasks in an effective manner. Finding ways to expand the brain by reading, drawing or playing games that cause the mind to think such as chest, checkers or learning a new language or taking piano lessons helps to build a stronger mind over time.

REFERENCES

http://www.human-memory.net www.psycholgy.about.com/2012 REFERENCES

http://www.euroafrica-multiculture.com http://www.mindtools.com http://www.queendom.com

Similar Documents

Free Essay

Memory Stages

...Three Stages of the Memory Virginia Ontiveros, Erika Garcia, Candelaria Miramontes, Maria Aguilera PSY/211 April 24, 2013 Mari Klang Three Stages of the Memory The human memory consists of three different stages. All three stages have different functions; these three stages are as follows; Sensory memory, short-term memory, and long-term memory. Sensory Memory The first stage of memory is recognized as sensory memory. Sensory memory handles all information that an individual senses that is going to happen in the present. It registers what an individual smells, feels, sees, tastes, and hears for a very momentary period of time. Then it substitutes the information with new sensory information or interprets it to short-term memory if you comprehend something as important, such as a gorgeous flower bouquet or an unclear address. Normally, visual data is recorded for only about 500 milliseconds before it is lost. Other sensory data is detained for only about one or two seconds before it is replaced. The sensory memory processes huge quantities of information every day, but this information is interpreted. It is like an enormous quantity of raw data that is continuously being handled and replaced ("What Are The Three Stages Of The Memory Process? Read More: What Are The Three Stages Of The Memory Process? | Ehow.com Http://www.ehow.com/info_8413619_three-Stages-Memory-Process.html#ixzz2rrgf69if", 1999-2013). Short-term memory Amongst sensory memory and long-term memory...

Words: 717 - Pages: 3

Free Essay

Three Stages of Memory

...Introduction Memory is the most important and essential aspect of human nature, without memory would not be the individuals we are today. A person's memory is like their own internal filing system that allows you to retain everything you have learnt, smelt, touched, tasted, seen and felt. The human brain can store enormous amounts of information that is learned throughout the lifetime of an individual. The current activity we are working on is possible because memory organized the information so that we could retrieve it. Explain the three stages of memory Memory is what we use to remember past information that might be necessary for us to use in our lives in the future. It is unfortunate that our memory may not always be so great and can be lost. There are three important stages of memory learned in this week's reading. Sensory memory is the ability to catch a large group of information in only a very short period of time, typically only lasting three seconds. While thinking or concentrating on an ideal, short term memory last about 20 seconds and stores only the information. The memory that can last a life-time is the long term memory. To remember this information from short term memory once moved over to the long term memory can be challenging as we get older. How might understanding how our memory works help us learn? Being able to understand how our memory works can help us throughout life when having to remember important information. We learn our short term memory limits...

Words: 452 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

3 Stages of Memory

...The first stage of memory is called sensory memory. Sensory memory registers a great deal of information from the environment and holds it for a very brief period of time. After three seconds or less, the information fades. Think of your sensory memory as an internal camera that continuously takes snapshots of your surroundings. With each snapshot, you momentarily focus your attention on specific details. Almost instantly, the snapshot fades, only to be replaced by another. During the very brief time the information is held in sensory memory, you select, or pay attention to, just a few aspects of all the environmental information that’s being registered. While studying, for example, you focus your attention on one page of your textbook, ignoring other environmental stimuli Many researchers believe that there is separate sensory memory for each sense- vision, hearing, touch, and smell. . The information you select from sensory memory is important because this information is transferred to the second stage of memory, short-term memory. Short-term memory refers to the active, working memory system. Your short-term memory temporarily holds all the information you are currently thinking about or consciously aware of. That information is stored briefly in short-term memory—for up to about 20 seconds. Because you use your short-term memory to actively process conscious information in a variety of ways, short-term memory is often referred to as working memory Imagining, remembering...

Words: 433 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

Three Stages of Memory

...Three stages of memory By Ruvim korchuk Memory is very crucial to all our lives. Without a memory of the past, we cannot operate in the present or even begin to think about what the future has in store for us. We would not be able to remember what we did the day before, what we have done today or what we want to do tomorrow or the day after. Without memory we could not learn anything at all, learning would be completely void without memory. The definition states; the mental capacity or faculty of retaining and reviving facts, events, impressions, etc., or of recalling or recognizing previous experiences. Memory is constantly involved in processing vast amounts of information. For psychologists in the field the term memory covers three very important aspects of information processing, of which include. One ,Encoding and memory, When information comes into our brain/ memory system, it needs to be changed into a form that the system can cope with, so that it can be stored. The three main ways information can be encoded are, Visual (pictures), acoustic (sound), semantic (meaning). For Example, how do you remember lyrics to your favorite songs, if you’re reading the lyric that’s visual encoding, if you’re memorizing by sound that’s acoustic encoding. Two, Storage and memory, this concerns the nature of memory stores, where the information is stored and how long the memory lasts for. There has been tons of research about the differences in long and short term memory. Most...

Words: 345 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

The Three Learning Stages of Memory

...The Three Stages of Memory Krista Horn, Kaiulani Kuehnel, Kelsey Moilanen, Ashley Mays PSY/211 Essentials of Psychology March 18, 2014 Sarah James-Felton The Three Stages of Memory There are three stages to using our memory. The first memory stage is the sensory stage. A person is constantly using their sensory memory which takes snapshots of a person’s surrounding environment, focuses on an object, looks over the details, and stores this information temporarily. This temporary memory lasts between a quarter of a second to three seconds, or until the brain finds something else to focus on and replaces the last memory. It is the mind’s natural way of skimming through life. When the brain registers the information an individual has focused on, the information is transferred into the next memory stage, which is the short-term memory (Huckenbury & Huckenbury, 2014). Short-term memory enables a person to temporarily store information. Short-term memory permits a person to read a book and understand what they are reading or remember directions to the grocery store.  Most things fade from the short-term memory unless the information is consistently repeated, like a person’s phone number when it is dialed. People get bombarded with new information every day. When the new information is processed, the brain makes a decision to keep the information or toss it.  If the information is not dedicated to long-term memory it remains no longer than 20 seconds, then quickly fades...

Words: 564 - Pages: 3

Free Essay

Memory Summary

...Memory Summary There are three stages of memory. These three stages make up the sections in our brain that helps us remember. If it was not for these sections, we would not be able to remember the information we receive every day. Sensory Memory: The first section is Sensory Memory. Sensory memory is the first stage and it registers the information coming into our brain and holds it for a very brief period. The information that the sensory memory receives usually fades after three seconds or less. The sensory memory is like a camera that takes “snapshots” of your surroundings (Hockenbury, 2014). Once the information is processed, it will transfer the information to the short-term memory. Short-term Memory: Short-term memory is the next stage of our memory. This stage is the working memory. The information in the sensory memory moves to the short-term memory and held for approximately 20 seconds (Hockenbury, 2014). Short-term memory retrieves old information from long-term memory, as well as encoding the information to store in the long-term memory. Long-term Memory: Long-term memory is the last and final stage. This section can hold information for a lifetime and has an unlimited amount of room for storage (Hockenbury, 2014). The reason there is so much room is that it has different memory systems. The most effective way to get the information you receive to stay in your long-term memory is by elaborative rehearse the information. This way you can memorize the information...

Words: 355 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

A Look Into the Human Memory Proocess

...A Look into the Human Memory Process Jasmin Chopper American Intercontinental University Abstract The memory process is comprised of different aspects which a person uses to acquire, retain, store, and later retrieve information. There are different systems of the memory process that are in charge of different types of memories. A stage model is used to help better understand the 3 different stages of memory: sensory memory, short-term memory, and long- term memory. There are ways to help one improve the process of information flowing into the next stage of memory. Some factors contribute to a person’s inability to properly retrieve information as well as cause a person to forget information. Memory is a complex process that pertains to more than just looking at an object and remembering what you saw. A Look into the Human Memory Process The human memory is a process in which we use to acquire, store, retain, and later retrieve information. Memory has to deal with different systems that are in charge of different types of memories (Sayre, 2011). A way of understanding more about memory would be to look at the stage model of memory, which is often used to explain the basic structure as well as function of memory. The model was initially proposed by Atkinson and Shiffron in 1968, this theory outlines 3 different stages of memory: sensory memory, short-term memory, and long-term memory. Sensory memory is the earliest stage of memory where sensory information from...

Words: 1018 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Seven Stages Of Alzheimer's Disease

...There are seven different stages of Alzheimer’s the during stage 1 (No Impairment), Alzheimer’s disease is not detectable and no memory problems or other symptoms of dementia are evident. Stage 2 is (Very Mild Decline), the senior may notice minor memory problems or lose things around the house, although not to the point where the memory loss can easily be distinguished from normal age related memory loss. The person will still do well on memory tests and the disease is unlikely to be detected by physicians or loved ones. Stage 3 (Mild Decline) At this stage, the friends and family members of the senior may begin to notice memory and cognitive problems. Performance on memory and cognitive tests are affected and physicians will be able to detect...

Words: 378 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Doc Memory Summary

...Memory Summary Lewana Jackson Essentials of Psychology/Psy-211 October 27, 2014 Mark Ammer Memory Summary Three Stages of Memory The first stage of memory is encoding. What is encoding? According to Miller (1956), Encoding is “When information comes into our memory system it needs to be changed into a Form that the system can cope with and understand so it can be stored.” Miller uses the example Of changing money in a foreign country to explain encoding. According to Miller, there are three ways information can be encoded: 1. Visual (picture) meaning if one sees something they are more apt to remember the item or Subject. An example is when children are taught how to count money. When they use play Money and actually use the items they see and feel what coins and the dollar bill sizes mean. 2. Acoustic (sound) meaning if I only had hearing as that of a blind person, I would be able to Recognize someone that I knew based on the sound of his or her voice including the pitch. I would be Able to determine if they are happy or sad based on the sound of their voice. 3. Semantic (meaning) as in certain cultures and professions people have different meanings and Nicknames for item and people. A prime example would be in the African American culture a Light-skinned person is referred to as “Red Bone”. Memory Storage Memory is stored two ways according to Miller (1956): 1. Short Term Memory (STM). This is...

Words: 453 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

The Impact of Pipelining on Computer System Performance

...Pipelining, Cache Memory, and Virtual Memory are the four most important advances. If any of these techniques were to be implemented separately there would not be as great of an improvement in the computer systems we have today. They are each dependent upon the other to amplify the performance increases. While each of these performs separate tasks to improve system performance, Pipelining has helped to improve system performance the most. Reduced Instruction Set Computing simplifies the instructions that are executed for a microprocessor. The RISC architecture was developed not to speed up the time with which processors can complete the instructions, but to simplify the instructions themselves. According to Masood in his article entitled RISC and CISC the Reduced Instruction Set Computer uses a “small, highly optimized set of instructions”, as opposed to the more complex instructions in other architecture systems. When a RISC architecture, which simplifies the instructions, is coupled with other methods, such as pipelining the system has a CPI of one cycle (Masood, 2011). Cache Memory improves system performance by storing recently accessed data not in the main memory, but in a high-speed intermediate memory location. This reduces the time used to fetch these instructions. Modern microprocessors use various levels of cache memory to perform the cache memory functions. According to the Network Dictionary L1 Cache is a primary that is built into the CPU. This memory stores copies...

Words: 810 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Learning and Memory Worksheet

...University of Phoenix Material Learning and Memory Worksheet 1. Write a 450- to 700-word essay to describe the relationship between classical and operant conditioning. Explain their elements and how they differ from one another. Additionally, provide an example for how learning can occur through each mode of conditioning. Explain how Ivan Pavlov and B.F. Skinner contributed to the study of learning and conditioning. Describe the relationship between classical and operant conditioning. Explain their elements and how they differ from one another. Additionally, provide an example for how learning can occur through each mode of conditioning. Classical and operant conditioning are two important concepts central to behavioral psychology. While both result in learning, the processes are quite different. In order to understand how each of these behavior modification techniques can be used, it is also essential to understand how classical conditioning and operant conditioning differ from one another. Classical conditioning theory involves learning a new behavior via the process of association. In simple terms two stimuli are linked together to produce a new learned response in a person or animal. There are three stages of classical conditioning. At each stage the stimuli and responses are given special scientific terms. In stage one the unconditioned stimulus produces a unconditioned response in an organism. In basic terms, this means that a stimulus in the environment has...

Words: 538 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Nt1310 Unit 1 Assignment 2

...the experiment stage 1 (digit span) I was able to clear my mind from my surrounding and focused solely on the numbers presented to me. As the number of digits increased I noticed that I was able to remember the first and last digit more readily than the digits in the middle. Also, the speed at which the numbers were called out to me seemed to have an impact as well. The faster the digits were read the quicker I was able to reiterate the digits back. The slower or wider the gap was between each number the harder it was to recreate the digits. Some other observations that came to my attention were; the clarity of the digits while they were being read out, the order of the digits whether it was ascending or descending, repetitive numbers in each list , and whether the beginning of the list was the same as the ending of the previous list. Each observation had its own share of impact on my recollection of the list being read out. If there was any hesitation from the reader’s part it directly affected my ability to regenerate the list from...

Words: 1217 - Pages: 5

Free Essay

Processing Thoery

...course of a persons life. This theory came out in the nineteen fifties and nineteen sixties, and has continually changed and been modified over the years. The information processing theory is a combination of three components; sensory register (memory), working memory, and long-term memory. The combination of these three components enables us as human beings to receive, think about, and process information. There is also one more component that is essential in the learning and memory process, this is called the central executive component. The central executive component is what you could refer to as the cognitive “supervisor”. Without this component a person's decision making skills and planning skills could be interfered with. Sensory register and working memory help in the beginning stages of memory, while long-term memory is just that. Long-term memory is used when storing information for long periods of time. During the study of the information processing theory is has been compared to a computer, seeing as how we “store” information and “retrieve” it from the memory. It could be said that sensory register (memory) and working memory are used to determine which pieces of information are needed to be stored in the long-term memory, and also where that information is...

Words: 1486 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Correlational Method

...between REM sleep and memory. I will describe previous research and then investigate how REM and memory are associated in young people and in older people. In some ways, the sleep patterns of these two groups are very similar, but in some ways they are not. 1a. The complete sleep cycle of an individual is composed of two stages: NREM and REM stage. NREM includes the stage 1 to stage 2 of sleep and the REM stage started from stage 3 to 4. The NREM comprises approximately 75% to 80% of the entire sleeping time of the person; the second stage, REM has the longer span which...

Words: 1290 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Memory

...Stages of Memory During my research I found out that memory is the method of maintaining information over time (Matlin, 2005) Memory is also the means that we have a tendency to draw on from our past experiences so that we may use this data in the present (Stenberg, 1999) A man by the name of Herman Ebbinghaus conducted a pioneer research on the study of memory during the late 1800s and early 1900s, through the use of serial learning Ebbinghaus determined that much of what we learn is forgotten very shortly, even after just coming from a learning session. Memory is very important to all of our lives, without a memory of our past; we would not be able to operate in the present or think of the future. Without memory we would not even be able to remember what we did yesterday, what we done today or even what we plan on doing tomorrow. Without our memory we would not be able to learn anything. It is known that our memory is involved in processing large amounts of data. This data takes on many various forms like: images, sounds or meaning. The term memory covers three very important aspects of information processing. The three stages of memory are: Encoding, Storage, and Retrieval. The first stage which is the memory Encoding stage, this is when data comes into our memory system(from sensory input) it then needs to be changed into a form that the system can cope with, so that it can be stored. You can think of this similar to changing money into a different currency when...

Words: 920 - Pages: 4