Memory is the process of taking in information from the world around us, processing it, storing it and later recalling that information, sometimes many years later. Memory is essential to all our lives. Without a memory of the past, we cannot operate in the present or think about the future.
Types of memory
There are three main types of memory:
- Working memory: Working memory refers to the processes for temporarily storing and using information. Sensory information is stored for a few seconds in our brain.
- Short-term memory: Short-term memory allows us to remember pieces of information. It allows a person to recall information for a short time like 30 seconds.
- Long-term memory: Long-term memory refers to the storage of information permanently in our brain.
How does the brain store long-term memory?
Brain stores long-term memories outside the hippocampus and neocortex. Repeated or rehearsed information is stored in the brain in memory shelves, and it is recalled when needed. Memory refers to the psychological processes of acquiring, storing, retaining, and later retrieving information. There are three major processes involved in memory: encoding, storage, and retrieval.
Encoding: At first, the information presented to the brain is coded in the brain just like binary digits. Encoding is important as it makes memory capable of being stored.
Storage: After encoding, memory is stored in certain areas of the brain specified for the storage of information, that is called memory shelves.
Retrieval: Retrieval refers to getting information out of brain storage and recalling it. Retrieval can’t occur if memory is not stored in the brain as long-term memory. [Read more…]
