Week 8- Learning and Memory

What is Memory and How Does it Work?

We just have memories, but have you ever thought about memories technically? 

What is Memory?

Memory is the process of acquiring information and storing it over periods of time so the information will be available when we need it.

Once we know that 2+2=4, it becomes a memory, or it is learned and memorized, later on in our lives, the information stored in our minds will be available when necessary, and you will never have to count your fingers again to reach the sum. 

Memory takes place over a series of steps, what is the Memory Process?

1) Encoding

2) Storage 

3) Retrieval 

Encoding is the process by which short-term memory solidifies into long-term memory. This solidification is more likely to happen when we can make connections with things we have already memorized. For example, it is easy to remember Target's logo, because we already know what a target looks like, it is similar to the logo. 

Storage is the process of "warehousing" the information or storing it until we need it. To understand this step, I like to think of the brain as a bookshelf that is very neatly and specifically organized. All your memories are stored in this bookshelf. You now know that the Target logo looks like a bullseye, so it is now stored away for later use.

Retrieval can also be looked at as taking a book from the bookshelf, you grab the proper book, go to a particular page, and the information is there. Retrieval is when information is recovered from long-term memories. If someone were to ask you to describe what the Target logo looks like, you would be able to do it from memory. You will go to your bookshelf, pick up the right book, and the logo will be there just when you need it.