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0 / 31 Fotos
The importance of memory
- It is almost impossible to overstate the importance of memory. Without knowing what we’ve done in the past, we cannot know what to do in the future.
© Shutterstock
1 / 31 Fotos
Complex processes
- The psychological processes involved in memory are complex and there are various models that experts use to analyze them.
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2 / 31 Fotos
The five stages
- Some researchers break down memory into a process that involves five main stages: encoding, storage, recall, retrieval, and forgetting.
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3 / 31 Fotos
The impact of external factors
- Each of these stages can be affected by a variety of external factors, and each of them has an impact on how well information is remembered.
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4 / 31 Fotos
One of many frameworks
- The five-stages model is not the only way to think about memory, but it is a helpful framework when it comes to understanding the process that underpins how we learn everything.
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5 / 31 Fotos
Stage 1 - encoding
- The first stage of memory–encoding–is all about converting information into a format in which it can be stored in our brains.
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6 / 31 Fotos
Paying attention to information
- Encoding is what happens when you pay attention to information, such as the list of items on a shopping list, and you try to commit it to memory.
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7 / 31 Fotos
Essential step
- It is an essential step in the process of memory, since it is what allows us to recall information at a later date.
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8 / 31 Fotos
Different ways to encode - There are three main ways that information can be encoded: visually, acoustically, and semantically. If you encode visually, you remember things by picturing them.
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9 / 31 Fotos
Acoustic encoding
- If you encode acoustically, by contrast, you remember things by repeating them to yourself.
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10 / 31 Fotos
Long-term vs. short-term memory
- Research shows that the main encoding system for short-term memory is acoustic, whereas for long-term memory it is semantic (meaning).
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11 / 31 Fotos
External factors
- Regardless of the technique, the process of encoding is always affected by external factors, such as stress or fatigue. If you try to memorize a shopping list when tired, for example, it is much more difficult than remembering it when you have a fresh mind.
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12 / 31 Fotos
Stage 2 - storage
- The next stage in the memory process is storage. This refers to the act of keeping information in our memory banks so that we can access it at a later date.
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13 / 31 Fotos
Mental representation
- When we store information, we are essentially creating a mental representation of that information in our minds. It can be either visual, auditory, or sensory.
© Shutterstock
14 / 31 Fotos
Different purpose
- There are two different types of storage: short-term memory and long-term memory. They each serve a slightly different purpose.
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15 / 31 Fotos
Hours vs. weeks and months
- Short-term memory is used for those pieces of information that we will only need for a short time, perhaps a few hours, whereas long-term memory is for information we will need to recall after a few weeks or months.
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16 / 31 Fotos
The question of capacity
- While the capacity of short-term memory is limited, the capacity of long-term memory is virtually unlimited. Information can be transferred from the short-term to the long-term memory, but the process is imperfect.
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17 / 31 Fotos
Stage 3 - recall
- Next up, we have recall, which is the involuntary process of retrieving information from our memory. For this to occur, the information must already be encoded and stored.
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18 / 31 Fotos
Two types of recall
- There are two different types of recall, which is essentially the process by which we ‘reexperience’ the event that was originally encoded in our memory system.
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19 / 31 Fotos
Free recall
- On the one hand, there is free recall, which is what happens when we retrieve information without any external cues or prompts.
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20 / 31 Fotos
Cued recall
- On the other, there is cued recall, which is what happens when we retrieve information with the help of external cues and/or prompts.
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21 / 31 Fotos
External factors
- Again, the recall stage of memory can be affected by a variety of external factors, including the individual’s mood and emotional state.
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22 / 31 Fotos
Stage 4 - retrieval
- Next up, we have retrieval, which also involves accessing the information that has been committed to memory. The difference with this stage of the process is that it’s intentional.
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23 / 31 Fotos
Example
- For example, if you are trying to remember the name of someone you met at a party, you will need to retrieve that information from where it was encoded and stored in your memory.
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24 / 31 Fotos
Using cues
- We often use retrieval cues to help ourselves find the information we are seeking. For example, if we are trying to remember someone’s name, we may refer to something that is unique about their appearance.
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25 / 31 Fotos
Crucial step
- Retrieval is a crucial step in the formation of long-term memories, but our ability to do it is heavily influenced by factors such as stress and fatigue.
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26 / 31 Fotos
Stage 5 - forgetting
- Finally, we have forgetting, which is the inability to retrieve information from memory. It is a completely normal part of the process and is not usually a cause for concern.
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27 / 31 Fotos
Retroactive interference
- Again, there are two different types of forgetting. Retroactive interference is what happens when new information interferes with our ability to remember old information.
© Shutterstock
28 / 31 Fotos
Proactive interference
- Proactive interference is what happens when old information interferes with our ability to remember new information.
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29 / 31 Fotos
Reasons we forget
- There are many reasons that we may forget information, such as not encoding it properly in the first place, or emotionally motivated problems with retrieval. Sources: (Verywell Mind) (Psychology Today)
© Shutterstock
30 / 31 Fotos
© Shutterstock
0 / 31 Fotos
The importance of memory
- It is almost impossible to overstate the importance of memory. Without knowing what we’ve done in the past, we cannot know what to do in the future.
© Shutterstock
1 / 31 Fotos
Complex processes
- The psychological processes involved in memory are complex and there are various models that experts use to analyze them.
© Shutterstock
2 / 31 Fotos
The five stages
- Some researchers break down memory into a process that involves five main stages: encoding, storage, recall, retrieval, and forgetting.
© Shutterstock
3 / 31 Fotos
The impact of external factors
- Each of these stages can be affected by a variety of external factors, and each of them has an impact on how well information is remembered.
© Shutterstock
4 / 31 Fotos
One of many frameworks
- The five-stages model is not the only way to think about memory, but it is a helpful framework when it comes to understanding the process that underpins how we learn everything.
© Shutterstock
5 / 31 Fotos
Stage 1 - encoding
- The first stage of memory–encoding–is all about converting information into a format in which it can be stored in our brains.
© Shutterstock
6 / 31 Fotos
Paying attention to information
- Encoding is what happens when you pay attention to information, such as the list of items on a shopping list, and you try to commit it to memory.
© Shutterstock
7 / 31 Fotos
Essential step
- It is an essential step in the process of memory, since it is what allows us to recall information at a later date.
© Shutterstock
8 / 31 Fotos
Different ways to encode - There are three main ways that information can be encoded: visually, acoustically, and semantically. If you encode visually, you remember things by picturing them.
© Shutterstock
9 / 31 Fotos
Acoustic encoding
- If you encode acoustically, by contrast, you remember things by repeating them to yourself.
© Shutterstock
10 / 31 Fotos
Long-term vs. short-term memory
- Research shows that the main encoding system for short-term memory is acoustic, whereas for long-term memory it is semantic (meaning).
© Shutterstock
11 / 31 Fotos
External factors
- Regardless of the technique, the process of encoding is always affected by external factors, such as stress or fatigue. If you try to memorize a shopping list when tired, for example, it is much more difficult than remembering it when you have a fresh mind.
© Shutterstock
12 / 31 Fotos
Stage 2 - storage
- The next stage in the memory process is storage. This refers to the act of keeping information in our memory banks so that we can access it at a later date.
© Shutterstock
13 / 31 Fotos
Mental representation
- When we store information, we are essentially creating a mental representation of that information in our minds. It can be either visual, auditory, or sensory.
© Shutterstock
14 / 31 Fotos
Different purpose
- There are two different types of storage: short-term memory and long-term memory. They each serve a slightly different purpose.
© Shutterstock
15 / 31 Fotos
Hours vs. weeks and months
- Short-term memory is used for those pieces of information that we will only need for a short time, perhaps a few hours, whereas long-term memory is for information we will need to recall after a few weeks or months.
© Shutterstock
16 / 31 Fotos
The question of capacity
- While the capacity of short-term memory is limited, the capacity of long-term memory is virtually unlimited. Information can be transferred from the short-term to the long-term memory, but the process is imperfect.
© Shutterstock
17 / 31 Fotos
Stage 3 - recall
- Next up, we have recall, which is the involuntary process of retrieving information from our memory. For this to occur, the information must already be encoded and stored.
© Shutterstock
18 / 31 Fotos
Two types of recall
- There are two different types of recall, which is essentially the process by which we ‘reexperience’ the event that was originally encoded in our memory system.
© Shutterstock
19 / 31 Fotos
Free recall
- On the one hand, there is free recall, which is what happens when we retrieve information without any external cues or prompts.
© Shutterstock
20 / 31 Fotos
Cued recall
- On the other, there is cued recall, which is what happens when we retrieve information with the help of external cues and/or prompts.
© Shutterstock
21 / 31 Fotos
External factors
- Again, the recall stage of memory can be affected by a variety of external factors, including the individual’s mood and emotional state.
© Shutterstock
22 / 31 Fotos
Stage 4 - retrieval
- Next up, we have retrieval, which also involves accessing the information that has been committed to memory. The difference with this stage of the process is that it’s intentional.
© Shutterstock
23 / 31 Fotos
Example
- For example, if you are trying to remember the name of someone you met at a party, you will need to retrieve that information from where it was encoded and stored in your memory.
© Shutterstock
24 / 31 Fotos
Using cues
- We often use retrieval cues to help ourselves find the information we are seeking. For example, if we are trying to remember someone’s name, we may refer to something that is unique about their appearance.
© Shutterstock
25 / 31 Fotos
Crucial step
- Retrieval is a crucial step in the formation of long-term memories, but our ability to do it is heavily influenced by factors such as stress and fatigue.
© Shutterstock
26 / 31 Fotos
Stage 5 - forgetting
- Finally, we have forgetting, which is the inability to retrieve information from memory. It is a completely normal part of the process and is not usually a cause for concern.
© Shutterstock
27 / 31 Fotos
Retroactive interference
- Again, there are two different types of forgetting. Retroactive interference is what happens when new information interferes with our ability to remember old information.
© Shutterstock
28 / 31 Fotos
Proactive interference
- Proactive interference is what happens when old information interferes with our ability to remember new information.
© Shutterstock
29 / 31 Fotos
Reasons we forget
- There are many reasons that we may forget information, such as not encoding it properly in the first place, or emotionally motivated problems with retrieval. Sources: (Verywell Mind) (Psychology Today)
© Shutterstock
30 / 31 Fotos
What are the five stages of memory?
A deep dive into the way we remember things
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When it comes to the human brain, there is still a lot we don't know. The processes that occur inside the brain are impossibly complex, and scientists have only really scratched the surface with their understanding. The concept of memory and the way we remember things is no exception. However, there are certain analyses that have been put forward to help people better understand the basics of how the brain works.
Curious? Check out this gallery to find out more.
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