Aspects of Psychology

Running Head : MEMORY

From Stimuli to Long Term Memory (Name (University (Professor (Course /Subject (Date

From Stimuli to Long Term Memory

In general , memory is taken as a process in the brain , wherein encoding storage and retrieving of data happens . Basically there are two general types of memory : explicit and implicit . As it names denotes explicit memory refers to clear information and usually to `first hand statements or declarations . Thus , commonly explicit memory involves autobiographical information and information about general knowledge . On the other hand , implicit memory is concerned about performing

an act or a task these are memories that are involved in skills and habits or even conditioning . Endel Tulving in 1985 , concluded that explicit memory can further be divided into two , the episodic and the semantic . The first type denotes memories of how things happen or take place while semantic refers to the meaning of things and explanation to events or ideas . Another system way of categorizing memory involves its function as they are being retrieved , remembered or recalled . The first category is retrospective memory which includes recalling the information that has happen . The other category is named as prospective memory which is concerned about remembering future possible actions

What we know , intend to know and is currently doing are all processed by the psychological mechanisms of the brain . Some of this we can remember many things we do not . The brain works instantly as it receive different types of stimuli either physical or chemical . These stimuli will be encoded to the brain and will be a part of sensory memory . As the brain grasp and process the information it may or might not be affected by decay if it will be rehearsed or repeated immediately , it will enter or become a short-term memory . When the short term memory is enhanced and enough attention is given , the information will be stored . This is the second step in the memory process . Storage happens when information is stored in the brain . When it is retained for a very long time , such memory will belong to long-term memory . To be able to make use of the information , the brain retrieves or recollect past memory

theless , there are three main steps by which memory are lost and /or forgotten . The first happens during the sensory memory wherein memory is not given enough attention or enough repetition , As William James (1950 , explained that `consciousness is not a collection of bits and pieces of data rather a stream of thought . Accordingly , the eyes work in what is called as `saccadic eye movement . Such movement is described as `jump from one frame to another in more or less four times per second . In sensory memory , information is retained in the mind for more than a second making everything seems fluid and continuous . As the information is selected from other information such that certain information are more focused on than the other , the memory will moved and become a part of short-term memory . To be able...