Introduction to Memory

Storage

The process of retaining information in the brain or a computer system for later retrieval and use

Explicit Memory

retention of facts and experiences that one can consciously know and “declare”

episodic memory

explicit memory of personally experienced events

Semantic memory

explicit memory of facts and general knowledge

Implicit memory

retention of learned skills or classically conditioned associations independent of conscious recollection

Procedural memory

a type of long-term memory that stores information related to motor skills, habits, and actions

prospective memory

remembering to perform actions at a specific time or event in the future

long-term potentiation

an increase in a cell’s firing potential after brief, rapid stimulation

working memory

active processing of incoming auditory and visual information, and of information retrieved from long-term memory

working memory model

describes the human memory as a complex system comprising of multiple components, rather than a single unitary store.

primary memory system

the short-term memory section of the working memory model

cental executive

controls the center of the working memory

phonological loop

deals with auditory information

visuospatial sketchpad

deals with visual information

long-term memory

the relatively permanent and limitless storehouse of the memory system

multi-store model

describes memory as a linear process comprising three distinct stores: sensory memory, short-term memory, and long-term memory

Sensory memory

the immediate, very brief recording of sensory information in the memory system

iconic memory

a momentary sensory memory of visual stimuli

echoic memory

a momentary sensory memory of auditory stimuli

automatic processing

unconscious encoding of incidental information and of well-learned information

effortful processing

encoding that required attention and conscious effort

levels of processing model

a cognitive framework that explains how information is processed and stored in memory

structural, phonemic, semantic

in the levels of processing model, there is shallow processing, short-term retention of information, and deep processing, more meaningful analysis of information leading to better recall