Table of contents
A memory is something natural that all people have, because it is a normal function of our brain. So, to understand more about how it works, continue our post. At the end, we have an invitation for you.
What is memory?
Memory is a process that the human brain uses to store and then retrieve information. It is part of human cognition, because it allows people to remember some event that happened in the past This is to help in the understanding of behaviors in the present.
In addition, memory provides people with a framework from which they can understand the future. Therefore, it plays a key role in the teaching and learning process.
How does memory work?
To understand what memory function So let's take a look at each of them in the following topics:
Encoding
The first process is coding, which refers to the process by which the data is apprehended. In other words, this is when the information is collected and changed to be stored in the best way.
Storage
In this stage, storage is related to how and for how long this previously codified information will remain in the memory. In fact, this process presents the existence of two types of memory:
- short-term;
- long-term.
First, the information is stored in the short-term memory and then, if appropriate, this data can be stored in the long-term memory.
Recovery
Finally, retrieval is the process by which people gain access to the stored information Because there are two types of memory, the information in each is retrieved in a different way.
The information that is in short-term memory is retrieved in the order in which it is stored, while that which is in long-term memory is retrieved by association. For example, you want to remember where you parked your car, first you will remember which entrance you came in through.
See_also: To dream of someone who has died smilingMemory Types
Memory is still a mystery, because of its distinct types that work in different brain regions. Moreover, each one has a different mechanism. However, some scholars classify that there are seven types Let's take a look at each of them in the following topics:
1. short term
Generally speaking, the information lasts only 20 to 30 seconds. It stores the data temporarily and then discards it, or if necessary, transfers it to long-term memory. Finally, this type is divided into two memories: immediate and working memories.
2. long term
Long-term memories, on the other hand, are more complex compared to short-term memories; after all, any event that occurred more than a few minutes ago can be stored in this type of memory.
In fact, depending on how often we want to recall a particular piece of information, the strength of that recall varies.
3. explicit
This type of memory is also called declarative memory. It is a type of long-term memory in which a person remembers after consciously thinking about the subject. Like the name of the childhood dog or the ID numbers.
4. episodic
Episodic memories are related to personal life and exciting moments. For example, the birth day of a loved one or a special wedding, and even what you had for dinner the night before.
See_also: Fear of being alone or lonely: Causes and TreatmentsFinally, our ability to retain these episodic memories will depend on how emotionally and special these experiences or events were.
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5. semantics
Semantic memory holds our general knowledge about the world. This is information that almost everyone knows, such as that the sky is blue, that fish live in water, or that giraffes have long necks.
Read Also: Emotional Intelligence, Education, and AffectivityUnlike episodic memory, we have the ability to maintain the strength and accuracy of semantic memory for a longer period of time However, as we age, it slowly diminishes this ability.
6. implicit
This type of memory includes memories that we don't need to consciously recall, for example, speaking our mother tongue or driving a car/motorcycle. No matter how much conscious thought goes into these learnings, at some point the experience becomes automatic.
7. procedural
Finally, we will talk about procedural memory. It allows you to do certain activities without thinking about them, like riding a bicycle There are theories that this type of memory is in a different part of the brain than episodic memory.
This is because people who suffer brain injuries most often forget basic information about themselves. Or they forget how to do simple activities like eating or walking.
Tips for exercising your memory
To finish our post, we will present some tips to keep your memory healthy at all times. After all, as we can see throughout the text, memory is something essential for all of us.
Take note
Writing down important information on paper helps to fix it in our brain, and serves as a reminder or reference for later. So always be sure to write down some essential information and set aside a notebook for this task.
Give some meaning to the remembrance
To remember something more easily, we can assign a meaning to that experience or event. To understand more, let us exemplify. If you meet a new person and want to remember his name, you can associate him with someone you already know In this way, you will remember her name easily.
Have a good night
We all know how important it is to get a good night's sleep, so our memory is also positively impacted by this habit. In fact, several studies indicate that taking a good nap after learning something new helps a person to learn faster. It also makes him/her remember the subject better after a while.
Maintain a healthy diet
Finally, food also impacts our memory. So have a healthy eating routine to help your ability to retain and store information. Some foods that enhance our memory are:
- blueberry;
- fish;
- pumpkin seed;
- avocado;
- dark chocolate.
While some foods are able to improve our memory, others can hinder this process. Check out some of them.
- pre-cooked food;
- very salty foods;
- sugar;
- artificial sweeteners.
- alcohol;
- frying;
- fast-food;
- processed proteins;
- trans fat.
Final considerations
Finally, we hope you enjoyed our post about memory With our 100% online classes, you will develop your knowledge in this rich area, so don't miss out on this opportunity.
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