Memory - A Constant Reminder of the Life Experienced


 

That one aspect of your life that can be consistent and constant is the memory you hold. Life changes, time changes, priorities changes, and this all even change us. But what we have at the end of the day in our hands is the memory of what and how life was, and how it changed along with us altogether. 

Memories are those snippets that often get a rewind and playback in our minds of all the things we kept away in a box, and sometimes for good. Let us look back at some memories and try reminiscing about them while reading this article further.

What is Memory?

Psychologically speaking, a ‘memory is the process of maintaining information over time’, and ‘memory is the means by which we draw on our past experiences in order to use the information in the present and future further’. 

In simpler words, a memory is a part of our experience, good as well as bad that we keep alive in our thought processes and mind over time slipping through. The storage of memory is totally dependent on ourselves. It depends on how much importance we give to a specific situation happening around and how well do we want to keep that with us.

Read more about what is memory for more insights. 

Stages of Memory 

There are three stages after which memory is finally stored in the human brain. The three stages are- encoding, storage, and retrieval.

  1. Memory encoding 


When information enters into the memory system, from the sensory inputs, then there is a need to be changed into a form that our nervous system can cope up with so that it can be stored further. This whole process of turning the sensory inputs into a storable input is called memory encoding. There are mainly three ways in which it could be encoded- visual, audio, or meaning. Other ways also come in handy sometimes, and the way they are developed is important, get a glimpse in this article for the types of encoding that are in existence. 



  1. Memory storage 


This process basically concerns the nature of stores of memory. Where the information would be stored, for how much duration it would be stored, and how much at one time could be stored, is all dissolved into this procedure. The way in which information is stored affects the way of retrieving it, memory storage is a very significant process both for past memory and future remembrance.



  1. Memory retrieval 

This procedure involves getting the information out of storage whenever needed. Sometimes if we are not able to remember something, it is because we may not be able to retrieve that memory at that point. Memory retrieval can also be understood as a memory that needs to be ‘recalled’.  

Read more about recalling memories to know more.

Types of Memories 

There are two types of memories. These are given below. 

  1. Short Term Memory (STM) - A short term memory is an information that a person had been currently thinking, or became aware of. It might only last for a few hours or days. It is also called primary or active memory. Mostly common adults can store about 5 to 9 items in their short term memory. STM is stored and retrieved in a very sequential manner, like a list of numbers arranged in some particular order.


  1. Long Term Memory (LTM) - A short term memory that is repeatedly recalled on a frequent basis and might significantly be very important is known as a long term memory. It stays much longer in mind, maybe for years also. It is also called a secondary memory. The number of items could be less than 5 also, but it has a greater impact on the human mind. LTM is stored and retrieved in a way of association, for example, this is why you would remember what you went upstairs in a room just by entering the room.

The Bottom Line 

No matter if memory is short term or long term, the main perspective is that every memory is important. Be it a memory of listening to grandma’s bedtime stories, or how happy were you seeing your new bicycle, or when you got your first phone, or when you were hurt by your first heartbreak. Be it any memory, at any age, and at any time, but it will always be with you, even when sometimes you won’t remember it at all. 

When I said that memory is the only constant thing we have anything, it is because it happened, got experienced by you, and became a part of you for always. Thereafter, it remains consistent because how can anybody ever remove a part of their own self?    

Not all memories are good, not all are bad too, but it has always been observed that people tend to hold onto a bad memory more often than a good one. They hold the grudges, guilt, sadness, blames more than they should be holding happiness, joy, satisfaction, feeling of life being wholesome through the good memories they once lived into. Memories can make you, and even can break you. They are fragile and need to be handled with care, not because you remember them but because you have lived them once.

We all know that we learn through senses, but how to take into execution is an altogether  different concept, read about how to execute the learning through senses 

Written By - Pavas Shrigyan

Edited By - Neha Kundu