Memory

“We do not know the true value of our moments until they have undergone the
test of memory” – Georges Duhamel, The Heart’s Domain

When is the last time you tried to remember what you already forgot? Why does
this happen? How does memory work?

The human memory is divided into three types:

Sensory memory –The sensory memories filter stimuli through each sensory
channel. The sensory channels are: iconic memory for visual stimuli, echoic
memory for audio stimuli and haptic memory for touch. Information is passed
from sensory memory into short-term memory, as it is needed.

Short-term memory - Short-term memory has a limited capacity and allows us to
have temporary recall of information. It is necessary to “Chunk” information to
increase short-term memory capacity. A quick example of chunking: A telephone
number is easier to remember when you hyphenate it into smaller sections.

Long-term memory - Long-term memory is intended for storage of information
over a long time. Information from the working memory is transferred to it after a
few seconds. Unlike in short-term memory, there is little decay.
There are two types of long-term memory: episodic memory and semantic
memory. Episodic memory represents our memory of events and experiences in
a serial form. It is from this memory that we can reconstruct the actual events
that took place at a given point in our lives. Semantic memory, on the other end,
is a structured record of facts, concepts and skills that we have acquired. The
information in semantic memory is derived from that in our own episodic memory,
such that we can learn new facts or concepts from our experiences.

There are three main activities related to long-term memory: storage, deletion
and retrieval. Information from short-term memory is stored in long-term memory
by rehearsal. Deletion, the second form, is mainly caused by decomposition and
obstruction. The third process of memory is information retrieval. There are two
types of information retrieval: recall and recognition. In recall, the information is
reproduced from memory. In recognition the presentation of the information
provides the knowledge that the information has been seen before. Recognition
is of lesser complexity, as the information is provided as a cue. However, the
recall can be assisted by recovery cues, which enable the subject to quickly
access the information in memory.

That concludes the short story of how the memory works.

Now, the rest of the story- everyone wishes they had a better memory. Part of
having a good memory is learning to use your memory effectively. Learn what is
important and most worthy of your attention. It's important to pay attention to
what you want to remember. One way to improve memory is to make the
memorization process more fun.

Mnemonic Devices are methods used to improve your memory. Mnemonic
devices are not only helpful with memorizing facts; they can also help you
remember peoples' names and faces.

External memory devices are another helpful way to remember things. External
memory devices can be anything from using a date planner to alarm watch to
writing it down.
Some common Mnemonic devices are acronyms, rhymes, grouping, and
imagery.
An example: An acronym a word formed from the first letters or groups of letters
in a name or phrase.
To be remembered: The planets, in order of their distance from the sun: Mercury,
Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto
Mnemonic Device: MVEMJSUNP = My Very Earnest Mother Just Served Us
Nine Pickles
To be remembered: The Great Lakes, from west to east: Huron, Ontario,
Michigan, Erie, Superior
Mnemonic Device: Some Men Hat Each Other. - OR - (not in order) HOMES