How memory works?

1. Different Types of Memory

2. Different Phases of Memorization

3. Influence of Emotions on Memory

4. Memory Biases

5. Impact of Technology on Memory

Welcome to the fascinating world of memory, where your brain juggles a multitude of information every day. If you've ever felt like your memory is a library where some books mysteriously disappear, then this article is for you. We'll delve into the mysteries of memory, reviewing short-term memory, long-term memory, and the memorization process.

1. Different Types of Memory

Memory is not limited to a single entity; it comes in different types, each with its own role and characteristics. Here are the five main types of memory:

• Episodic Memory: This memory concerns personal memories linked to specific events and experiences in your life. It allows you to remember your last birthday or the last time you went to the beach.
• Semantic Memory: This is the memory of general knowledge and abstract concepts. It's thanks to this memory that you remember that Paris is the capital of France or that water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.
• Sensory Memory: This memory is related to our senses. It allows us to briefly process sensory information such as sight, hearing, and touch. For example, it's what allows you to see an image for a fraction of a second.
• Procedural Memory: Also known as skill memory, it governs how we learn and perform practical skills. This can range from riding a bike to playing a musical instrument.
• Working Memory: This memory is used to actively manipulate information in the short term. It is essential for tasks such as solving complex math problems or following step-by-step instructions.

These types of memory work together to form our overall understanding of the world around us. Each plays a unique role and contributes to our daily experience.

2. Different Phases of Memorization

Memorization is not just about storing information. It goes through several phases: encoding, storage, and retrieval.

Understanding how these phases interplay is crucial.

• Encoding involves converting information into a format that the brain can process and store. When exposed to new information, your brain starts by encoding it—converting it into a format that can be stored in long-term memory. This can be done in various ways, such as linking information to pre-existing knowledge or creating connections between them.
• Storage involves creating connections between neurons to retain this information. Once information has been encoded, it is stored in long-term memory. This is done by modifying connections between neurons in the brain so that the information is associated with specific neural networks.
• Retrieval allows you to retrieve this information when needed. When you want to access information stored in long-term memory, your brain activates the neural networks associated with that information to retrieve it. The more frequently information is used, the easier it is to retrieve.

3. Influence of Emotions on Memory

Emotions have a profound impact on our ability to memorize information. When we experience strong emotions, such as joy, fear, or sadness, our brain releases neurotransmitters like dopamine and adrenaline, which strengthen the neural connections associated with those emotions. This makes memories linked to emotional events often more vivid and enduring.

Imagine attending a concert of your favorite band. The excitement and happiness you feel during the concert stimulate the release of dopamine. As a result, details of that experience, such as the setlist or the faces of other fans, will likely be easier to recall than details of an ordinary day.

4. Memory Biases

Memory is not a simple exact reproduction of past events. It is influenced by various cognitive biases that can alter our memories. Among the most common biases is confirmation bias, where we tend to selectively remember information that confirms our pre-existing beliefs. Availability bias leads us to overestimate the likelihood of recent or salient events simply because they are more easily accessible in our memory.

Take confirmation bias, for instance. If you have a strong political conviction, you are more likely to remember information that supports your position, while forgetting information that contradicts it.

5. Impact of Technology on Memory

Modern technology, especially smartphones and the Internet, has significantly changed how we interact with information and how we store it. Understanding this impact is essential for conscious use of these tools.

Frequent use of smartphones to take photos and notes can have a surprising effect on our memory. Rather than memorizing details, we rely on devices to do it for us. Additionally, the constant availability of information online can lead us to externalize our memory, relying on the Internet to quickly look up answers instead of memorizing them.