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Information processing when studying - study techniques
Understanding how our brain processes external information is essential, but first we must know its inner workings. Neurons, or nerve cells, are responsible for capturing data from nerve endings throughout the body. Thus, they transmit the sensations that the brain analyzes. The information reaches these cells through axons, and the synapse is the connection between neurons, this can be excitatory or inhibitory.
An interesting fact is that the assimilation of information from experience, which occurs mainly in the first years of life, results in an overproduction of synapses followed by a selective elimination of memories.
A baby, just a few months old, has more synapses than an adult. This phenomenon is observed in the cerebral cortex, especially in the visual cortex, where numerous synapses are formed and then disappear. This explains why we do not retain many memories of the first months or years. Synapses stabilize at about 3 years in the visual cortex, whereas in other areas, such as the frontal cortex, it can take up to 10 years.
Another method of forming synapses involves the continuous creation of new connections throughout life, selecting which ones are relevant and eliminating those that are not, which affects our memory and recollections.
Sensory organs convert physical stimuli such as sound, touch and smell into electrochemical signals, initiating information processing. This is transformed and decoded in the brain. For example, if you are in an art gallery looking at the artwork, your brain analyzes details such as color, shape and orientation. In this phase, it filters the information to determine what is relevant, otherwise, you would have to process every little detail in the room.
For the brain to process information, it must first store it. Memory, in its various forms-short-term and long-term, as well as working memory-is crucial. Information is first encoded and then stored. For example, working memory retains data for less than 30 seconds.Information recall
Information is not only encoded and stored, it is also brought back. Remember times when you were trying to remember something specific? That is part of the recall process, which is sometimes successful and sometimes not. This task can be complicated, as it often requires reconstructing scenes from isolated and unclear details. Memories are not always reliable, as they can be influenced or distorted by various factors.
The memory system is complex, but undoubtedly effective on many occasions. Recalling memories involves encoding the information in the shortest possible time and then placing it in our long-term memory.
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