In the realm of psychology, the process of memory plays a pivotal role in our cognition. Memory encoding, storage, and retrieval are essential components in the functioning of the human memory system. Different people have varying capabilities when it comes to remembering voices, sounds, songs, tastes, smells, textures, faces, places, and events.
Models of Human Memory System
Psychologists have developed various memory models to aid in understanding how our brains form and retrieve memories. These information-processing models are analogies that compare human memory to a computer's operations, considering our memories to be less literal and more fragile. The process of memory in psychology involves encoding, storage, and retrieval. This entails encoding, which is the processing of information into the memory system by extracting meaning. The next step is storage, where the encoded information is retained over time, followed by retrieval, which is the process of getting information out of memory storage. Parallel processing, which involves the processing of many aspects of a problem simultaneously and connectionism, which views memories as products of interconnected neural networks, are additional aspects of the process of memory in psychology.
Richard Atkinson and Richard Shiffrin have established a model of sensory memory, short-term memory, and long-term memory in their memory model. It includes working memory, a newer understanding of short-term memory, and automatic processing. Working memory focuses on conscious, active processing of incoming auditory and visual-spatial information, as well as retrieving information from long-term memory. Long-term memory, on the other hand, is the relatively permanent and limitless storehouse of the memory system, containing knowledge, skills, and experiences. Other psychologists have added working memory and automatic processing to enrich these models.
Understanding Explicit and Implicit Memories
In exploring memory encoding, storage, and retrieval, it is important to differentiate between explicit and implicit memories. Explicit memory refers to the memory of facts and experiences that one can consciously know and "declare." Alan Baddeley and others challenge the view of short-term memory as a small, brief storage space for recent thoughts/experiences, and instead propose that it serves as an active desktop for processing information in context and experience.
On the other hand, implicit memory is the retention of information independent of conscious recollection. Procedural memory, such as automatic skills, and classically conditioned associations among stimuli, are examples of implicit memories. The process of encoding, storage, and retrieval includes effortful processing, which involves encoding that requires attention and conscious effort. It also encompasses automatic processing, the unconscious encoding of incidental information, and well-learned information such as word meanings.
Functioning of Sensory Memory and Working Memory
Sensory memory plays a crucial role in feeding active working memory by recording images of scenes or sounds. For instance, iconic memory is a momentary sensory memory of visual stimuli, akin to a photographic or picture-image memory lasting no more than a few tenths of a second. Meanwhile, echoic memory is a momentary sensory memory of auditory stimuli, allowing sounds and words to be recalled within 3 or 4 seconds even when attention is elsewhere.
Capacity of Short-term and Working Memory
George Miller proposed that short-term memory can retain about seven plus or minus two bits of information, and its capacity varies depending on age and other factors. Young adults have greater working memory capacity, allowing them to multitask effectively.
Effortful Processing Strategies
Finally, there are various effortful processing strategies that can aid in remembering new information, such as chunking, which involves organizing information into manageable units. These strategies enrich our understanding of the process of memory encoding, storage, and retrieval, and provide valuable insights into human cognition. Ultimately, memory depends on the context, experience, and cognitive abilities of the individual, making it a fascinating area of study in the field of psychology.
