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When memories are made, the brain first encodes information from our senses. The hippocampus helps store the memory by forming connections, and the cortex keeps them long-term. The prefrontal cortex helps us retrieve the memory, and the amygdala allows us to add emotional importance (Sousa, 2022).

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diagram of working long term and sensory memory

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Stores knowledge for long periods of time (days, months, or even years). It is strengthened when the hippocampus and other brain structures form strong connections between neurons, creating pathways that make retrieval easier later (Harvard Health, n.d.). This is useful for keeping experiences or facts and skills taught. It also connects new knowledge to old knowledge. Repeated practice, meaningful connections, and retrieval activities help students remember and apply knowledge (Sousa, 2022).

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Short-term memory consciously holds information for a limited time. The information can be manipulated to be stored elsewhere later on. This is needed for things such as remembering multi-step directions, solving math problems, and learning to decode words. Since it has limited space educators should try to break tasks into smaller steps, use repetition, or provide scaffolding (Harvard Health, n.d.).

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Sensory memory holds immediate impressions for a few seconds. It takes in quick sounds, sights, and feelings. This initial filter will decide if the information will move forward or if it will fade away before it is used. In education settings, students pay more attention when visuals, sounds, and movements are used (Sousa, 2022).

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Retention is the ability to keep information in memory over time. This happens when the hippocampus consolidates memories and strengthens neural connections, turning short-term memories into long-term storage in the cortex (Sousa, 2022).

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Transfer allows a person to apply what has been learned to new situations. It involves the prefrontal cortex, which helps students retrieve relevant memories and apply them to new problems or tasks. Connections between prior knowledge and new information make transfer more successful (Harvard Health, n.d.).

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Retention can be improved by reviewing concepts over time and connecting new lessons to what has already been learned. Project based learning, real life examples, and problem solving tasks will help strengthen transfer and build new ideas.

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Trauma interferes with how the brain processes and stores information. Stress hormones like cortisol can disrupt the hippocampus, as well as, over-activate the amygdala, making students more sensitive to emotional triggers(Hopkins Medicine, 2023).

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Students who have experienced trauma may struggle to follow multi-step instructions, retain information, or regulate emotions in class. Teachers can help by creating a predictable and safe learning environment, using structured routines, and breaking tasks down to reduce cognitive overload.

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Students can relate information more effectively when it is connected to something they already know. The brain is able to make stronger neural pathways, which supports long-term storage and easier recall. For example, in elementary classrooms, a teacher might use a treasure map to help students remember the steps in a process, like cleaning up supplies or solving a math problem. By linking the task to the fun of searching for “hidden treasure,” the memory sticks because it’s tied to an engaging and emotional experience. For learners who have experienced trauma, these playful connections can reduce stress by bringing in positive emotions and a sense of safety, which helps memory take hold more effectively (Sousa, 2022).

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The brain processes information through multiple channels: visual, auditory, and kinesthetic. When students engage with content in more than one way, the hippocampus has more opportunities to encode the memory, making it easier to recall later (Johns Hopkins Medicine, 2024).

In junior high science, for example, students might see diagrams of a cell, hear explanations using analogies, and build 3D cell models with clay. Some even act out the parts of the cell (e.g., a student as the mitochondria providing energy). These multi-sensory experiences strengthen memory by activating different brain regions and are especially helpful for learners who have experienced trauma, as movement and creativity can reduce stress and increase engagement (Johns Hopkins Medicine, 2024).

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Short mindfulness activities such as starting class with deep breathing exercises or simple yoga stretches can calm the amygdala and lower stress hormones. This frees up working memory so students can better focus and store information in long-term memory. For example, a junior high teacher might lead students in three slow breaths before a test or a quick stretch-and-breathe routine after lunch to reset their attention. These practices are especially supportive for students who have experienced trauma because they support both focus and emotional regulation, which are critical for learning (Mindworks, n.d).

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American Psychological Association. (n.d.). Mindfulness meditation: A research-proven way to reduce stress. https://www.apa.org/topics/mindfulness/meditation

Canva. (n.d.). [Photograph]. Canva. https://www.canva.com

Example:

Harvard Health Publishing. (n.d.). Memory. Harvard Medical School. https://www.health.harvard.edu/topics/memory

Johns Hopkins Medicine. (2024). Traumatic brain injury. Johns Hopkins Medicine. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/traumatic-brain-injury

Mindworks. (n.d.). Does meditation improve memory? https://mindworks.org/blog/does-meditation-improve-memory/

Sousa, D. A. (2022). How the brain learns (6th ed.). Corwin.