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The 3 processes of memory are Encoding, Storage, and Retrieval. Encoding is the initial learning of information, storage is maintaining information over time, and retrieval is the ability to access information when you need it.

Sensory Memory - Initial process that receives and holds environmental info for several seconds, iconic = visual, echoic = hear

Short Term Memory - Your working memory, holds info for 2 - 30 seconds, +/- 7 items - zip codes, passwords, phone numbers, retain info BRIEFLY

Long Term Memory - Process of storing almost unlimited amounts of info over long periods of time

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Long Term Memory - One long term memory I have is from homecoming with my friends, I remember what we did and the fun we had. Also I remember eating Jimmy John’s that night for dinner.

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Long Term Memory - Another long term memory I have is playing golf with my brother, dad, and grandpa. It was a hot and sunny day last June when we played. It was a great time and I almost beat my dad.

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Memory Tricks - One memory trick is serial position effect which is the tendency to recall info that is presented first and last better than the info presented in the middle. You can use this to put important info in the start and end of a speech so that poeple will remember that stuff better.

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Memory Tricks - Another memory trick you can use is Chunking which is the organization of items into familiar or manageable units or chucks, like remembering phone numbers by the first 3 numbers, then the next 3, and then the last 4 numbers

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Problem Solving Strategies- One problem solving strategy is Algorithms which are a fixed set of rules or procedures that will guarantee a solution. People who can solve Rubik’s Cube use algorithms to solve them. This works all the time if you can remember the algorithm and know how to use it.

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Problem Solving Strategies - Another problem solving strategy is Heuristic which is problem solving shortcuts that reduce the number of steps to solving a problem. This is things like working backwards from a problem to find a solution like when you forget where you place your keys and retrace your steps to find them. This usually works pretty well if you can remember what you were doing before you lost your keys.

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Problem Solving Obstacles - Faulty Heuristics is when you introduce errors and bias into memories that alter them. This is like when you think someone does certain hobby’s because of their jobs when really they might have nothing to do with that.

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Problem Solving Obstacles - Another problem solving obstacle is Mental Set, this is the tendency to only to see solutions that have worked in the past. This is bad because there might be other ways to solve something that are better than what you know. An example is when you always reboot your computer when it freezes instead of waiting an extra second to see if it un freezes.

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Losing keys and everyday items ‘not always sign of poor memory’

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2 US based psychologists are coming out with a book about how a degree of forgetting is natural to allow the brain to remember more general information. Memory does not work like a recording device, they say, but 'more like a Wiki page' because details can be edited. They call for greater understanding of how memory really works, as it can have real life impact. For example, they suggest potential jurors should be taught how memory works, as victims of crime may not be believed in court because their memories are patchy even though this is perfectly normal.

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The mysteries of how memory works are explained in a new book that suggests anyone can boost their powers of recall -- and that losing your keys is normal.

Dr Megan Sumeracki and Dr Althea Need Kaminske say storing and retrieving information is far more complex than people think. Extremes of memory such as photographic or savant are also very rare despite their regular portrayal in films.

Their new book The Psychology of Memory outlines simple recollection-boosting techniques to improve learning -- or to help remember names and numbers.
Forgetting is normal
The authors highlight how a degree of forgetting is natural to allow the brain to remember more general information. Memory does not work like a recording device, they say, but 'more like a Wiki page' because details can be edited.

The authors, who are both US-based psychologists, call for greater understanding of how memory really works, as it can have real life impact. For example, they suggest potential jurors should be taught how memory works, as victims of crime may not be believed in court because their memories are patchy even though this is perfectly normal.

Dr Kaminske writes: "Because we are most aware of our memory when we have trouble remembering something, our intuitions about how memory works might be a little biased.

"For example, I (Althea) spend an embarrassing amount of time looking for my phone, water bottle, and keys. You may be unsurprised to learn that our memory systems are not necessarily designed to remember where we put our phones. Or keys. Or water bottles.

"Though we would hazard a guess that if we were in a survival scenario where dehydration was a concern, we would be much more aware of water sources.

"People are better at remembering information when they process it in a fitness-relevant scenario, such as being stranded in the grasslands of a foreign land."
How to improve memory
The Psychology of Memory uses research based on cognitive psychology to increase understanding of all types of memory and their impact. It shows how memory has a huge impact on our lives and can be impaired by alcohol, sleep-deprivation and caffeine.

The book explains the science behind different memory systems and types, such as short and long-term memory, and what they are used for.

The authors debunk myths such as that memory is merely a collection of past events. Instead, they show how it is vital for remembering to perform a task in future.

Strategies can strengthen this type of memory which is known as 'event-based' recall. Dr Sumeracki and Dr Kaminske suggest leaving a purse in the back seat of the car as a cue to remember to remove your child from their car seat before heading into work.

Other memory-boosting techniques can improve long-term knowledge and lead to more efficient learning, according to the authors.

One technique described in the book is 'retrieval practice', the strategy of 'pulling' facts from memory. An example is learning a new colleague's name by deliberately addressing them by it every time you see them.

Chess players remember the location of pieces on the board using schema, a way of organizing new information in the brain. The benefit of schema is it also reduces demands on working memory, and while the authors are not suggesting that it is easy to become a chess champion, anyone can use schema to store and recall complex information.

"Visual and auditory techniques can also help train the memory of normal individuals. The ability to recall the order of cards in a pack seems impressive but can be achieved by creating mental associations for each card," they explain.

"Anyone who has studied knows that regular practice is essential. But to become an expert in a field of learning, people need to employ deliberate practice. The difference is that deliberate practice involves purposeful and deliberate attention whereas regular practice just involves repetition."

Book information:

The Psychology of Memory, by Megan Sumeracki, Althea Need Kaminske (Routledge 2024) ISBN: Paperback: 9781032488639 | Hardback 9781032488646 | eBook 9781003391166 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003391166

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Losing keys and everyday items 'not always sign of poor memory'

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The mysteries of how memory works are explained in a new book that suggests anyone can boost their powers of recall -- and that losing your keys is normal.

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A look inside the brain during sleep shows how memory is stored

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Neuroscientists from Northwestern University teamed up with clinicians from the University of Chicago Epilepsy Center to study the brain electrical activity of patients in response to sounds administered by the research team as part of a learning exercise. While prior studies have used EEG recordings captured by electrodes on the head to measure memory processing during sleep, this is the first study to record such electrical activity from inside the brain. The study found participants significantly improved their performance in a recall test the next morning. The mapped brain activity allowed the researchers to take a big step forward in understanding how memory storage works by providing visual data identifying the areas of the brain engaged in the process of overnight memory storage.

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A look inside the brain during sleep shows how memory is stored

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Reactivating memories triggers electrical activity signifying improvement in storage

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Memory, thinking, and problem-solving are fundamental cognitive abilities that play a crucial role in our daily lives. Memory allows us to store and retrieve information, enabling us to learn from past experiences and make informed decisions in the present. Thinking involves the process of analyzing, evaluating, and synthesizing information, helping us to interpret the world around us and formulate plans of action. Problem-solving is essential for overcoming challenges and achieving goals, as it involves identifying obstacles, generating potential solutions, and selecting the most effective course of action. Understanding human behavior relies heavily on these cognitive processes. Memory shapes our perceptions and beliefs, influencing how we interpret events and interact with others. Thinking guides our decision-making and problem-solving abilities, impacting our behaviors and reactions in various situations. By studying how we remember, think, and solve problems, we can gain insights into human cognition and behavior, helping to explain why people act the way they do and providing strategies for promoting positive change and adaptation.

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Short Term Memory - A short term memory I have is remembering that you can keep around 7 things in your short term memory because I just wrote that down.