1. Memory and its physiological mechanisms
Memory is the ability of a person to retain, store, and retrieve information about the past.
This process is based on a complex physiological mechanism. The information that a person intends to remember represents nervous excitation. When the information has already been stored, it means that the nervous excitation has left a trace in the nervous tissue. But these are not simply imprints, but actual irreversible changes in neurons.
2. Processes and properties of memory
The memory process includes several key physiological aspects:
-
Encoding. During encoding, the brain perceives information and converts it into a form in which this information can be stored in memory. Encoding can occur in different ways, depending on which sense organ participates: visual, auditory, semantic, etc. Each person can use different methods of encoding information depending on the situation, their preferences, and individual memory characteristics.
-
Storage. The storage of information in memory is the process as a result of which encoded information leaves an imprint in the form of neural connections for future use. The stronger the connections between the neurons responsible for storing information, the better it is preserved.
-
Forgetting. The process by which information or memories become unavailable for retrieval from memory. Although forgetting is often viewed as a negative phenomenon, it actually plays an important role in the functioning of memory, allowing only important or relevant information to be kept in mind. There are several processes of forgetting:
-
Interference.
This is the process in which new information hinders the retrieval or recall of old information and vice versa. Competition occurs between different memory traces. For example, a person learns a poem. After some time, they learn a new poem. When trying to recall the first one, difficulties may arise, for example, lines or words may get mixed up because there is an overlap of one piece of information onto another. -
Destruction of memories.
Information can gradually be destroyed or lose its connection with other memories due to time or lack of use. -
Incomplete encoding.
If information was not well encoded during initial memorization, it may be lost or may be harder to recall. For example, a person trying to remember a certain historical fact does not focus on dates. Subsequently, it will be difficult for them to recall the entire sequence of a historical event associated with specific dates. -
Repression (or suppression).
Some memories may be suppressed due to unpleasant associations with them or emotional discomfort.
-
-
Reproduction (or recall) is the process of retrieving information from memory and presenting it again in consciousness. Information can be reproduced as a result of internal or external stimuli: associations, questions, images, or sounds that activate the memories associated with them. The process of information reproduction includes several stages:
-
Activation.
This stage includes the activation of concepts or ideas in memory associated with the information. For example, seeing an old friend, a person may suddenly remember moments of their past communication. Even though they had no intention of remembering this beforehand. -
Retrieval.
After the activation of the corresponding memory traces, the information itself is retrieved from memory. This can be a conscious process during active attempts to remember something, or an unconscious one, when a memory comes on its own, unconsciously. -
Restoration.
After retrieving the information, it is restored in consciousness. This can be either a complete reproduction of the information or its partial restoration. -
Reconstruction.
Memory does not always accurately reproduce information. Based on existing fragments and context, a memory is recreated that is not identical to the real event that occurred, but something similar. This can lead to distortions or errors.
Reproduction can be involuntary (when information is reproduced without the participation of a volitional component) or voluntary (recall of information occurs with a certain volitional effort).
-
Memory is a complex process possessing a whole range of properties and characteristics:
-
Volume. The volume of memory as a mental process reflects the ability of a person to memorize and store a certain amount of information, which can vary among different people and depends on various factors: genetic characteristics, characteristics of the central nervous system, stress level, emotional state of a specific person [3].
-
Accuracy. This characteristic of memory denotes the possibility of memorizing information and reproducing it with a high degree of accuracy and correctness, without distortions or errors.
The accuracy of memory can depend on various factors, including attention to details when memorizing information, the ability to concentrate, the presence of a connection between the memorized information and existing information, repetition practice, the emotional coloring of the memorized information, and its significance for the subject. -
Speed of memorization. This property implies the possibility of quickly and effectively assimilating new information. This is one of the key properties of memory, which influences how quickly a person can memorize and retain information in their brain.
The speed of memorization depends on such factors as high concentration of attention, the connection of new information with existing information, characteristics of the functioning of the central nervous system of a specific person, etc. -
Duration of storage. The duration of information storage in memory is the ability of the brain to retain information for a certain period of time. This feature can be improved through repetition, active use of information, creation of associations, and use of various memorization strategies.
-
Lability. Lability shows the ratio between the memorization and forgetting of material. The higher the lability of memory, the faster information will be forgotten or distorted. This means that stored information is less stable and more susceptible to the influence of other factors that can lead to the loss or distortion of data.
When speaking of the process of memorization and forgetting, memory lability can play a key role in how effectively a person can preserve and retrieve information. If memory is too labile, it can hinder the preservation of important data for a long term. But a certain degree of lability can be useful for updating information and adapting to new conditions.
To effectively use information, to avoid its distortion or forgetting, a person needs a balance between memory stability and its flexibility. Regular repetition, use of various strategies for memorization and processing of information will help improve memory quality and reduce its lability.
-
Interference resistance. Interference resistance gives the ability to preserve information and effectively restore it even under distortions. This is an important property of memory, especially in conditions where a person, for example, receives information in a state of stress, fatigue, or encounters external interference: noise, errors in this information, etc.