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The Science of Memory

• Introductory questions
• Memory storage and retrieval:
• Memory storage
• As soon as we intercept certain data or note an event, the information is encoded into the short-term memory. Short-term memory has a fairly limited capacity; it can hold about seven items for no more than 20 or 30 seconds at a time. Once this information is processed, two different things can happen; the information can be lost or it can be transferred into long-term memory. Long-term memory, or LTM, is the part of our memory storage system that has an unlimited capacity to retain information for a long time. There are two different types of memory included in LTM.
• 1.Unconscious memory: This includes the formation of memory without us being aware of it. For example, learning how to drive a car or tie your shoelace are both unconscious memories. Such memories are slow to acquire, but far more resistant to change or loss.*
• 2 Conscious memory: This type of memory pertains mainly to facts, such as names and dates. It is swiftly acquired, but also swiftly lost. Constant repetition can transform conscious memory into unconscious memory.