The memory for studying well - study techniques

Memory is, without a doubt, one of the cognitive functions that allow us to interact effectively as social beings.

Imagine a life without the ability to retain information or without memories. Memory is not a simple mental process, on the contrary, it involves encoding, storing and retrieving information, as well as establishing temporal and spatial connections between facts. Thanks to memory, we can remember names, telephone numbers, birthdays, faces, places, songs and a variety of sensations and emotions that we have experienced throughout our lives.

From another perspective, it is important to note that memory is essential for learning: what would be the point of acquiring new knowledge if we could not remember it and, therefore, apply it?

In anatomical terms, memory is related to the hippocampus, although several areas of the nervous system also play a role, such as the right hemisphere, which is associated with the meaning of words, the temporal cortex, which stores childhood memories, the frontal lobes, which coordinate thought and perception, and the cerebellum, which is involved in many automatic cognitive processes.

Types of memory

There are multiple types of memory, as well as different classification criteria. In this lesson, we will focus on one of them.

Based on Atkinson and Shiffrin's multi-storage theory:

• Sensory memory: this type of memory is ephemeral, lasting approximately 250 milliseconds, which is enough to identify the information before processing it.

• Short-term memory [STM]: As its name indicates, it retains information for brief periods. Within this category, we find:

• Working [or working] memory: Part of short-term memory, it is related to tasks that require temporary storage of information. It is composed of four key components: phonological loop, visuospatial agenda, episodic store and executive system. The phonological loop specializes in verbal information, allowing us to memorize addresses. The visuospatial agenda processes visual information, helping us to remember routes. The episodic store integrates information of various types, whether visual, verbal, temporal or spatial. Finally, the executive system oversees the functioning of working memory.

• Long-term memory [LTM]: As its name suggests, this stores information over long periods of time and is also divided into several types.

• Implicit or procedural memory: This stores information unconsciously, allowing us to perform automatic activities, such as driving or stopping at traffic lights.

• Explicit or declarative memory: Unlike the previous one, this retains information consciously, manifesting itself in the memory of dates, people and places.

• Episodic memory: This type of memory allows us to store significant moments of our life, whether good or bad.

• Semantic memory: Unlike episodic memory, this memory helps us to remember long-term events, but without connection to personal experiences, such as relevant historical data.

Abnormalities associated with memory:

• Recency effect: We tend to remember more clearly information that is presented at the end.

• Primacy effect: We remember more intensely the information that is presented to us first.

• Google effect: The tendency to forget information that we know we can easily find on the Internet.

• Mandela effect or false memory: Refers to distorted memories, which are common in unrelated people. This name comes from the fact that many believed that Nelson Mandela had died in prison, when in fact he did not.

• "Déjà vu": A feeling of having experienced a specific moment before.

• "Jamais vu": The inverse of déjà vu, it occurs when we feel that we are experiencing something for the first time, even though we have experienced it several times before.

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