Memory And Sensory Memory

Memory occurs in stages of encoding, storing, and retrieval. All types of memories go through this process to be later remembered. Memory is a mental process that allows us to organize our life, crucial for learning, and molds our personality. Since memory is a complex concept there are many different types that explicit touch on why some memories are different from one another. Interestingly, some memory types undergo processes which can converge to another memory. The first memory type is involved in our everyday life and is being used at this moment. Sensory memory is derived from our five senses and one’s perception gives the memory meaning. The process of sensory memory is first introduced from the physical energy from the environment

For example, iconic or visual memory lasts one second, this usually involves seeing a visual image and being able to detect what it is. Next, haptic memory is dealt with the sense of touch and lasts two seconds. One can touch an object and perceive what it is using their memory to transform their perception to a meaning. Lastly, echoic is an auditory sensory memory that last usually four seconds. An interesting fact of sensory memory’s processes is that smell can produce a memory. Since the olfactory bulb, used for smell, is near the hippocampus, used for memory, they can work together to associate a smell and where a person is in time to produce a memory. Therefore, when the smell is encountered again it can potentially elicit a

For example, trying to remember numbers such as, 1 6 9 9 0 0 2 1, is difficult since we can only hold seven items. Since chunking involves rearrangement to further help the duration of remembrance, the numbers can be arranged in a significant way. For example, 1 0 0 2 1 9 9 6, personally this is easier to remember since it is a birthdate. Chunking can help remember items in random order by rearrange them in a meaningful sequence. Next, by thinking elaborately, one can use the existence of old knowledge to hook onto new knowledge. For example, a breed of a dog can go into the knowledge of dogs being diverse. Imagery can help by transforming an event into a detailed depiction. Lastly, rehearsing involves repetitions of information to be stored as a memory, if not this can result in decay or memory being lost. A sub-memory type within STM is working memory, it is the bridge to STM being converted to LTM. Working memory involves information processing and not just being a store to hold information, as well as it is used to actively think. Baddeley and Hitch (1974) introduced three subsystems of the working memory, which are, the phonological loop, visuo-spatial sketchpad, and the central executive. Overall, working memory involves perceptual and linguistic