CHAPTER – 7 HUMAN MEMORY
Memory refers to retaining and recalling information over a period of
time, depending upon the nature of cognitive task (thinking, problem
solving, and perception) you are required to perform. For example, solving
maths problems or writing an essay or remembering a phone number.
Memory is the means by which we draw on our past experiences in order
to use this information in the present.
Memory is conceptualised as a process consisting of three independent,
though interrelated stages. These are encoding, storage, and retrieval.
Encoding – It is the first stage of human memory in which information is
recorded and registered for the first time so that it becomes usable by our
memory system and substantial meaning is derived from the incoming
information.
Storage - It is the second stage of human memory in which the encoded
information is retained and held over a period of time so that it can be
utilized later.
Retrieval – It is the third stage of memory in which the stored information
can be recovered from our memory as and when the situation demands.
, Memory failure can occur at any of these stages. You may fail to recall
information because you did not encode it properly, or the storage was
weak so you could not access or retrieve it when required.
Information Processing Approach (Stage Model)
Human beings register information, store and manipulate the stored
information depending on the task that they need to perform. For
example, when you are required to solve a mathematical problem, the
memory relating to mathematical operations, such as division or
subtraction are carried out, activated and put to use, and receive the
output (the problem solution). This analogy led to the development of the
first model of memory, which was proposed by Atkinson and Shiffrin in
1968. It is known as Stage Model.
According to the Stage Model, there are three memory systems: the
Sensory Memory, the Short-term Memory and the Long-term Memory.
1. Sensory memory- It contains a fleeting impression of a sensory stimulus
(sight/visual, sound/auditory). It has a large capacity. It is of a very short
duration that is less than a second.
2. Short-term memory STM – A limited recollection of recently perceived
stimulus (telephone number, order of food). It holds a small amount of
information for a brief period of time which is less than 30 seconds.
3. Long-term memory LTM - It is defined as a permanent store of memories
for later retrieval. Here, information is encoded semantically and the
storage capacity is unlimited.
Memory refers to retaining and recalling information over a period of
time, depending upon the nature of cognitive task (thinking, problem
solving, and perception) you are required to perform. For example, solving
maths problems or writing an essay or remembering a phone number.
Memory is the means by which we draw on our past experiences in order
to use this information in the present.
Memory is conceptualised as a process consisting of three independent,
though interrelated stages. These are encoding, storage, and retrieval.
Encoding – It is the first stage of human memory in which information is
recorded and registered for the first time so that it becomes usable by our
memory system and substantial meaning is derived from the incoming
information.
Storage - It is the second stage of human memory in which the encoded
information is retained and held over a period of time so that it can be
utilized later.
Retrieval – It is the third stage of memory in which the stored information
can be recovered from our memory as and when the situation demands.
, Memory failure can occur at any of these stages. You may fail to recall
information because you did not encode it properly, or the storage was
weak so you could not access or retrieve it when required.
Information Processing Approach (Stage Model)
Human beings register information, store and manipulate the stored
information depending on the task that they need to perform. For
example, when you are required to solve a mathematical problem, the
memory relating to mathematical operations, such as division or
subtraction are carried out, activated and put to use, and receive the
output (the problem solution). This analogy led to the development of the
first model of memory, which was proposed by Atkinson and Shiffrin in
1968. It is known as Stage Model.
According to the Stage Model, there are three memory systems: the
Sensory Memory, the Short-term Memory and the Long-term Memory.
1. Sensory memory- It contains a fleeting impression of a sensory stimulus
(sight/visual, sound/auditory). It has a large capacity. It is of a very short
duration that is less than a second.
2. Short-term memory STM – A limited recollection of recently perceived
stimulus (telephone number, order of food). It holds a small amount of
information for a brief period of time which is less than 30 seconds.
3. Long-term memory LTM - It is defined as a permanent store of memories
for later retrieval. Here, information is encoded semantically and the
storage capacity is unlimited.
