Once your mind starts generating any memories, it is stored whether for the short-term or for the long-term. According to the experts, there is three storage system for memories, one is the sensory stage of memories, next is the short term memory and some memories are long-term. Our brain has a limited capacity to hold onto memories so it functions like a filter and maintains everything in a balance so that the brain is not over-flooded with information and protects us to avoid any confusion.
Consider watching this video to know more about relation between sleep and memory….
The memories are first created with the perception where the brain registers the new information during the sensory stage. This stage lasts for milliseconds where the person perceives the information through visual pattern, certain sounds, or a touch feeling once the stimulation stops. Once the sensation is over, the short term memories are generated which can hold around 7-8 items at a time and that too for few seconds ranging between 20-40 seconds depending on your capacity. Some people were seen to remember only 5 items while others could remember 9 items. For instance, you try remembering a 10-digit code at once, so you won’t be able to remember it for long but if you try dividing it into a small three-digit pattern then you’ll be able to remember it for long and store it in the short term memories. If the information is quite important then it might stay in your brain as long-term memory. The more information you try remembering and retaining the more it stays in your long-term memory section. It is therefore said that sensory and short term memory rapidly evaporate from your mind and have a limited course but long-term memory, on the other hand, is stored for a longer period and they can store excess information for an indefinite period.
Short term memory helps in temporary storage and management of the information which helps in performing complex tasks like reasoning, learning or comprehension. Short-term memory helps in the initiation, selection, and termination of certain information that helps in processing functions like storing, retrieving and encoding information.
Long term memory, on the other hand, is the vast storage of knowledge where it holds onto the prior events and has existing views regarding the knowledge. It is the continuous storage system where you hold onto memories. The storage capacity of long-term memories is unlimited. It can remember all the things that happened to you one minute ago or the events that happened one day, one week or one month ago even years ago. Long-term memories can easily be recalled most of the time but some of them come in bits and pieces. Long-term memories are also categorized into two types such as implicit and explicit memories. Implicit memories are not the part of your consciousness and they are formed from certain behaviors such as brushing teeth while explicit memories are the part of your consciousness and they are ones which you try to remember and recall frequently.
The long-term memories are more effective if the person already knows something about a certain subject as the information has a certain meaning to the person who is reading it for the first time. The information is already connected with the already stored information in the long-term memory section. This helps in understanding the subject in complete depth with greater meaning to it. Memories are the form of processing information similar to the computer where it encodes, stores information and then retrieves over different phases of life. so what are you waiting for learn different things in life and form new memories.
Until Next Time,
Team Doctor ASKY!