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The 3 processes of memory are:

- encoding: making mental representations of information so that it can be placed into our memories
- storing: process of placing encoded information into relatively permanent mental storage to recall later
- retrieving: process of recalling information from your short term or long term memory

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One strategy I use to remember information is chunking, which is you split up/organize something into smaller, more manageable parts. An example is remembering my phone number; I would come up with some way that the numbers a related to each other so that I can remember the whole thing. Sometimes I would use simple math.

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Another method is the use of heuristics, which is a problem solving shortcut that reduces the number of steps to solving a problem. An example is if you are stuck in traffic and decide to make a turn to avoid it, thinking this new route can bring you to your destination faster. Another example is when you know the process of solving a math equation and skip a small step to save time on a standardized test.

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How did the COVID-19 vaccines affect adults’ abilities to remember things?
- survey/questionnaire asking if vaccinated citizens felt that they have been experiencing memory loss since being vaccinated
- conduct an experiment having test subjects who are not vaccinated recall their earliest memory. Then, vaccinate some of them, wait a few days, and then call everybody back after a couple days to see if they respond the same

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Our memories are extremely important for our lives because without good memory, you will not remember how to do skills you might need for your job. You might waste time finding things that you’ve misplaced or do poorly on a test if you do not try to retain information in your brain. Without problem-solving methods, people might not be able to think quickly, and sometimes there might be risky situations that would require the ability to be witty in a short period of time for survival. Memories with emotional attachment can also make your life more enjoyable since you will have fun experiences to think back on to remember how much fun you had. However, memories can also be traumatic and affect our decisions in the future. Overall, it is important to understand how your memory can help you perform well in school or work. It is also important to understand how different problem solving strategies can help you and how obstacles can challenge you so you can do your best in any situation you are put in. Ultimately, it is crucial to understand cognitive psychology —the study of how we process, store, and use information— to learn more about how your brain works to retain information, which can help you in the long run.

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Sensory memory: process that receives and holds environmental information for several seconds
- can be visual information (iconic) or audio (echoic)

Short-term memory: memory that contains information you are constantly aware of before it is either stored more permanently or forgotten (another name is working memory)

Long-term memory: relevantly permanent and limitless storehouse of the memory system
- holds memories without conscious effort

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A short-term memory I had from yesterday (5/5/24) is that I crocheted outside in my backyard for around an hour. It made me feel very at peace with myself and relaxed after several stressful weeks of school with lots of homework to do. Memories are important because they can help you remember information related to your memory. When you have an emotional connection to a memory/experience (also known as flashbulb memory), you are more likely to remember similar information. Memories can also enhance your life because you will have fun experiences that you will remember and they can teach you life lessons.

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1. A long term memory I have from this year was my first time competing for high school a cappella in February. We went to Buffalo Grove High School for quarterfinals and performed in front of judges. There were many different schools (some from Wisconsin!), and the experience made me feel closer to and more comfortable with each of my group members (along with the other group of girls from Prospect). Everybody there was super supportive, and it was especially fun because it was our first time competing. We mainly went just to get a feel for it and have fun, so we were not expecting to progress further (spoiler alert: we did not qualify for semifinals).
This is an example of explicit/declarative long-term memory (specifically episodic) because I am able to consciously remember it when something (a retrieval cue) prompts me to think about it, yet it will remain in my brain even when I am not actively thinking about it.

2. Another long-term memory I had was in the summer of 2019, which was the last time I went bike riding with my cousins on my dad’s side. We aren’t the closest, but we rode in Chicago. The rest of them made it to downtown, but I couldn’t make it. My vision was blurring, and it was really hot outside. This was the closest I got to passing out, so for a while, I did not like bike riding. It made me feel very weak.
Bike riding is an example of implicit/non-declaritive long-term memory, which is more procedural. This experience was also an example of classical conditioning in which the hot weather (unconditioned response) caused my vision to blur, so because it was tied to the memory of bike riding (conditioned stimulus), I avoided riding my bike for a while.

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Another method I sometimes use (but not that often) is mnemonic devices, which are memory tricks (usually acronyms). An example I remember from elementary school that many people used is PEMDAS to remember order of operations (but I learned it as GEMS). GEMS stood for Grouping (parenthesis, brackets, etc), Exponents, Multiplying/dividing, and Subtracting/adding.

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A problem solving method is algorithm, which is a fixed set of rules or procedures that will guarantee a solution. An example is when you buy a piece of furniture, and there are instructions telling you how to construct the piece. This can help because there are many pieces that come with it, and it is much easier to follow given instructions rather than trying to build a table based on only looking at a picture.

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A problem solving obstacle is functional fixedness, which is when you think of a thing only in the way it is usually used/how it usually works. For example, if you have wet clothes that you need to dry quickly, you could use a hairdryer to dry the wet parts. However, with functional fixedness, you would struggle to come up with that idea.
Something similar to this is proactive interference, which is when old information hinders the recall of new information. Because you have previously seen your glasses as a way to help you see better, you might not have thought of using them to start an emergency fire.

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Another obstacle is mental set, which is the tendency to only see solutions that have worked in the past. For example, if a child’s parent always gave them whatever they wanted to stop a tantrum, then the kid will learn that things will be given to them if they make a fit over it. This can be a problem in a professional setting because at work, employees have a boss that they have to work for and follow directions. Many people do not enjoy work, but making a fit over stuff you don’t want to do will not make the work go away. If anything, the boss might not like you because of it, which could worsen chances of promotions or cause you to face negative consequences.
This is also an example of negative reinforcement for the parent because they will be more likely to give in to their child to make their kid stop crying.

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My family before we started bike riding! I’m in the red helmet… … awkward middle school era :)