Human Memory Constructs in Psychology: Exploring the Workings of the Human Mind's Memory Processes

Human Memory Constructs in Psychology: Exploring the Workings of the Human Mind's Memory Processes

memory is a fascinating subject that has fascinated humans for centuries. While we may think we know a thing or two about memory, there's always more to learn. In this unfiltered, uncensored dive into the labyrinth of memory research, we'll take a no-holds-barred look at various models of memory in psychology.

But first, let's take a moment to define some key memory terms and concepts:

• Attention: Deliberate or grabbed focus of awareness toward certain information or stimuli.
• Short-term memory (STM): A temporary storage of information (one-time passwords, phone numbers)
• Long-term memory (LTM): The long-term storage of memory (life events, personal details, unique skills). LTM may not be genuinely unlimited/infinite, but it can keep growing.
• Working memory (WM): A reconceptualization of Short-term memory where information is not just temporarily stored but is also manipulated (active thinking, logic, mental math, mentally updating your grocery list).
• Implicit memory (non-declarative memory): Internalized aspects of memory that are largely unconscious. Such as swimming or singing the lyrics of a song you haven't deliberately learned. It also includes information that affects your actions without your awareness, such as obeying game rules or driving maneuvers.
• Procedural memory: A subset of Implicit memory that accounts for learning procedures: physical movements (piano, basketball), verbal instructions (flight attendant protocol), mental strategies (algorithms), etc.
• Explicit memory (declarative memory): Memory of facts and events which is consciously remembered.
• Episodic memory: Memory of everyday events and experiences in the form of "episodes." Subset of long-term memory.
• Semantic memory: Memory formed by the process of putting things into words such as facts, dates, and this list. Subset of long-term memory, closely related to episodic memory and declarative/explicit memory.
• Encoding: It is the process of converting information into something that can be meaningfully recalled and stored in the brain.
• Memory Consolidation: The process of converting acquired information into long-lasting memory traces. This concept isn't used in this post.
• Memory model: A representation of how memory would work in the brain. A conceptual framework to understand it.

Now, let's delve into five theories of memory in psychology:

1. Multistore/dual-store model of memory (Atkinson-Shiffrin)

Atkinson and Shiffrin proposed a multi-store model made up of 3 storage registers:

1. Sensory Memory (SM): Short duration (2 seconds), raw sensory information is encoded, unlimited capacity.
2. Short-Term Memory (STM): Limited capacity (3-10 chunks of information), limited duration (up to 20-30 seconds), information can be heavily manipulated.
3. Long-Term Memory (LTM): Semantic content, Sensory representations (audio-visual), unlimited/large capacity.

This model is known as dual-store because STM and LTM are considered disparate units of storage. The distinction between STM and LTM is still functional today. The assumption is supported by memory studies done on patients with amnesia (memory loss). A famous example is Henry Molaison, also known as HM in psychology textbooks. After surgery that removed a part of HM's brain called the hippocampus, he lost conscious memories for facts, songs, faces, etc. However, his short-term memory was intact – he could still manipulate information in his head for a short duration.

Information needs to be attended to and then encoded to go into long-term storage. Information can be forgotten from any of the 3 registers. To recall information that has transferred to LTM, retrieval is needed to bring it back into STM and then recalled.

2. The Levels of processing model (Craik-Lockhart)

The Levels of processing model improves the multi-store/dual-store model by focusing on encoding in a more detailed way. The theory of Craik and Lockhart posits that the more elaborate and meaningful associations for information get, the more long-lasting the memory becomes. Here, the memory storage registers aren't as disparate and more continuous than in the Atkinson-Shiffrin model. As per this model, memory is a function of the quality of processing of information.

There are two levels of processing:

1. Shallow processing: Processing the sensory and perceptual features (size, shape, sound). This process maintains the information in its perceived form.
2. Deep processing: Understanding and analyzing the information for its meaning/semantic content, value, context, relationship to other information, etc. This process promotes information from STM to LTM.

You can check out their experimental structure here. The most important strength of this model is that it explains why information we find meaningful, spend time on, think about gets etched in our memory.

3. Baddeley's model of Working memory

This model, developed by British psychologist Alan Baddeley, expands upon the vague idea of short-term memory and working memory. The model includes three important features:

1. The phonological loop: This stores auditory information.
2. The Visuospatial Sketchpad: This stores location, arrangement, shapes, sizes, etc.
3. The episodic buffer: This facilitates the integration of various perceptual and semantic features to form holistic units. It draws upon information from long-term memory so new information can be put in the context of existing information.

These units work together under the overarching involvement of the Central Executive, which represents attentional and other cognitive resources needed for a functional working memory. The Central Executive supervises and coordinates the three 'slave' systems listed above.

4. Serial-parallel independent model of memory (Tulving's SPI)

Tulving's model accounts for two primary systems of memory representation:

1. The cognitive representation system: This includes the content aspect of memory. From sensory features to cognitive manipulations of information. This system accounts for remembering facts, life episodes, trivial and significant experiences, thoughts, conversations, faces, etc.
2. The action system: This includes more learning-based memory aspects such as dance moves, driving and swimming skills, musical sequences, barista protocols, etc. A key limitation of previous models is the lack of accountability in automatic and intuitive behaviors that involve memory – the action system or procedural memory.

This layout describes the formation of memory at multiple levels. It posits that memory can be formed at a strictly perceptual level, as in many animals and children. Higher-level processes are not necessary for lower-level memories to function. The semantic memory component of the cognitive representation system accounts for the process of semanticization, where words help define episodic memories. This process is overly strict in this model, as the model requires episodic memory to be dependent on semantic memory. Which is not necessarily true. Tulving has also made the initial development of defining semantic, episodic, and procedural memory as an improvement over previous models.

5. MNESIS: Memory NeoStructural Inter-Systemic model

This memory model combines Baddeley's working memory model, Tulving's concepts, and other miscellaneous findings to create a macro-model of memory that describes the structure and processes involved. The model consists of multiple communication channels which account for feedback loops, influence, and the merger of information.

While this memory model is still a work in progress and isn't always easy to prove, it has its advantages:

• The episodic buffer functions as a "grayish black-box" and can lead to creative ideation by borrowing concepts from multiple memory domains.
• Information can be acquired through many areas and may be generated within these sub-units.
• The procedural memory system has a direct link with sensory-perceptual input and working memory, as well as the long-term memory systems.

Of course, MNESIS isn't without limitations:

1. This memory model relies on existing findings and hypothetical possibilities, making it difficult to verify which model is correct.
2. The model does not fully address concepts such as implicit and explicit memory, or declarative and non-declarative memory.
3. The model's applicability to non-dementia patients is unclear.

These models provide valuable insights into memory processes, but they each have limitations and areas for further research. So, the next time you find yourself struggling to remember a name or overwhelming yourself with information, take comfort in knowing that even the most enlightened minds have wondered about the fascinating workings of memory!

1. Mental health is significantly affected by sleep, as it directly influences attention and cognitive function.
2. Neuroscience research has shown that sleep plays a crucial role in memory consolidation, which is the process of strengthening memory traces in the brain.
3. Adequate sleep can improve memory, learning, and attention, while sleep deprivation can lead to impaired cognitive performance, anxiety, and stress.
4. Motivation and habits are often interconnected, as habits can be shaped by motivation and can, in turn, influence productivity and overall health-and-wellness.
5. An evidence-based approach to improving memory involves adopting habits such as regular exercise, a healthy diet, and a consistent sleep schedule, along with cognitive training exercises.
6. In cognitive science, emotion regulation strategies can play an essential role in attention and memory, as controlling emotions can reduce stress and improve cognitive functioning.
7. Psychology research has demonstrated that emotions can affect memory consolidation, with positive emotions enhancing memory recall and negative emotions impairing it.
8. Stress management techniques can help reduce anxiety and improve memory function, as chronic stress can interfere with the brain's ability to consolidate and retrieve memories effectively.
9. Therapy, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), can help individuals learn effective strategies for managing their emotions, reducing stress, and enhancing cognitive performance.
10. Research into memory has revealed that long-term memory (LTM) is not genuinely unlimited, although it can keep growing, and it is closely related to cognition, including learning and attention.
11. The brain's behavior is shaped by evidence-based practices rooted in neuroscience and psychology, providing valuable insights into the fascinating world of health-and-wellness, including mental health and mental-healthoverall functioning.

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