process of memory

psychobiological (brain areas and memory)

encoding

raw info being processed into a useable form for storage

storage

the process of retaining converted info so it can be accessed and used in the future

retrieval

the process of accessing memory that has been previously stored

memory

the process of encoding, storing and retrieving learned info

long term memory

a store of memory which is potentially unlimited and can hold info for a relatively permanent amount of time

• capacity - potentially unlimited

• duration - relatively permanent

short term memory

the store of memory that briefly stores raw info detected by senses (sight, touch, hearing)

• capacity - 7±2

• duration - 18-30 seconds

sensory memory

the store of memory which holds info that is conciously being attended to

• duration - 0.2-4 seconds

• capacity - unlimited

echoic memory

a type of sensory memory that temporarily stores auditory info

• duration - 3-4 seconds

iconic memory

a type of sensory memory that temporarily stores visual info

• duration - 0.2-0.4 seconds

explicit memory

a memory which is conciously brought into awareness

• episodic - involves an indivuduals personal experience

• semantic - involves facts and general knowledge

implicit memory

memory which is retrieved unconciously

• procedural - involves motor skills and habits in order to have the general knowledge to do something

• classically conditioned - involves an involuntary response to a stimulus that has been associated with an emotionally arousing stimulus

hippocampus

encodes and consolidates explicit memories to transfer to long-term storage

hippocampus (consolidating)

the neurobiological process of making a newly formed memory stable and enduring following a learning process

• reconsolidation - re-establishing memories each time after they’re retrieved and changed

cerebellum

involved in learning conditioned responses and motor learning (motor control, balance, fine muscle movements)

encodes and temporarily stores implicit procedural memories

cerebral cortex

stores long-term memories, particularly involved in the storage of explicit memories

amygdala

enhances encoding and consolidation of emotional memories

primarily involved in encoding the emotional component of classically conditioned memories (implicit) and explicit memories

neocortex

stores long-term explicit memories and is vital in retrieval process and LTP

basal ganglia

involved in procedural (implicit) memory and learning
involved in habituation learning (simple motor skills)

amygdala + hippocampus

level of emotional arousal at the time of encoding influences the strength of long-term memory formed from that event
noradrenaline increase in amygdala stimulates amygdala to attach more emotional significance

alzhiemers

a neurodegenerative disease that involves the progressive loss of neurons in the brain and is characterised by memory decline

aphantasia

involves not being able to picutre visual imagery in your minds eye and is associated with a weak visual cortex

acrostics

a mnemonic device in which the first letters of each item create a ryhme or phrase

• links to words/sentences we already know

acronyms

a mnemonic device in which the first letters of each item form a pronounceable word

• links to familiar words/sounds we already know

method of loci

a mnemonic device that converts items into mental images and associates them with specific locations to aid memory