Memory

● Introduction
● Definition
● Nature of Memory
● Types of Memory
● Factors influencing memory
● Theories of Memory
● Methods of Memorization
 INTRODUCTION

 Memory plays a very important role in our learning

and psychological growth. Through memory of our
past experiences, we handle new situations; it helps
us in our relearning problem solving and thinking.
 Memory consists of remembering what had
previously learned. Thus, this process begins with
learning and ends with its retrieval and
reproduction.
 Definition

1. According to Woodworth, 1948

“Memory consists in remembering what has
previously been learned.”
Count…….

● According to Ryburn, 1956

“The power that we have to ‘store’ our experiences,
and to bring them into the field of consciousness
sometime after experiences have occurred, is
termed memory.”
● According to Matlin, 2005
“Memory is the process of maintaining information
over time.”
Nature of Memory

 It is special ability of our mind to store what has

been previously experienced or learned.
 It is a complex process which involves factors like
1.Learning or registration
2.Retention
3.Recall
4.Recognition
● The process of memory begins with learning
or experiencing something and ends with its
revival and reproduction.
Therefore, memory is said to involve four
stages : learning or experiencing something,
its retention and finally its recognition and
recall.
Types of Memory
1. Immediate or Sensory Memory
Sensory Memory is the first stage of
memory that occurs within the senses
while transmitted to the brain.
In such type of memory retentive time
is extremely brief generally from a
fraction of a second to several
seconds.
Ex : Iconic memory (visual)
Echoic Memory (auditory)
2. Short Term Memory

Short Term Memory (STM) holds a

relatively small amount of information,
about Seven items, for a short period of
20-30 seconds.
Ex: we look for a telephone number
from the diary and after we finish
talking, we forget it.
3. Long Term Memory
Long Term Memory (LTM) has the
unlimited capacity to store information for
days, months, years and even a life time.
When the LTM is formed there is physical
change in the nervous system called
memory traces or engrams.

LTM can be categorized into

● Declarative memory
● Procedural Memory
 ● Declarative Memory (Explicit)
This memory system manages factual information. It
contain recollections of words, definitions, Names,
Dates, events, concepts and ideas.
Facts in declarative Memory further subdivided into:
1. Semantic Memory : contains information about
general knowledge and facts about the world.
Ex: Mathematical & Historical data
2. Episodic Memory : biological details of our
individual lives. Our memories of what we have done and
the kinds of experiences we have had.
Ex : Memory of happiest day in life, Qualification.
Procedural Memory (implicit / non declarative)

This is the memory related skills and

habits.
For ex: ride a bicycle, make a cup of
coffee.
In other words, information about how to
do things.
Factors Influencing Memory

Extrinsic Factors Intrinsic Factors

 Meaningfulness of ● Age
material ● Maturity
 Amount of ● Will to learn
● Interest and attention
material
● Rest and sleep
 Time required to ● Medical Conditions
vocalise response
 Distraction
Theories of Memory
● Theory of General Memory Functions
1. Encoding is the process of receiving sensory input
and transforming it into a code which can be
stored.
2. Storage is a process of actually putting coded
information into memory.
3. Retrieval is the process of gaining access to
stored coded information when it is needed.
● Information Processing Theory
● Developed by Richard Atkinson and Richard Shiffrin, 1968
● According to this theory Memory starts with a memory
input from the environment.
● This input held for several seconds in a sensory register.
● Information that attended passed into STM, where it is
held 20-30 seconds.
● Information that is rehearsed by than is passed to LTM.
● The information which is placed in LTM will be organized
into categories, where they may reside for days, months,
years or lifetime. When we remember something
representation of item is retrived from LTM.
 ● Levels of Processing Theory

 Craik and Lockhart, 1972 proposed that memory occurs on a

continum from shallow to deep.
 The shallow or superficial levels store information about identity of
phenomena. It involves analysis in terms of physical or sensory
characteristics like brightness or pitch.
 The intermediate level of memory relates to recognition and
labelling.
 The deep level is the storage meaning and networks of association.
Deeper processing results more elaborate, Long lasting and stronger
memory traces.
Craik and Lockhart gave three examples of levels in
which verbal information can be processed :
Healthy Habits to improve Memory

 Regular Exercise
 Managing Stress
 Good Sleep Habits
 No Smoking
 Meditation
 Methods of Memorization

 Whole and Part Method

 Space and Unspaced Method
 Repetition and Practice
 Making use of the Principal of Association
 Grouping and Rhythm
 Recitation
 Utilizing as many senses as possible
 Pulling at all together
 Funnel Approach
 Acronym
 Acrostic
 Mnemonics
 Mnemonic link system
 Method of loci
 Memory peg system
 Chunking
1. Whole and Part Method :

● There are two methods of memorizing a thing, for

example a poem
● One is to read the poem again and again from the
beginning till the end as a whole.
● In the other method-the poem is devided into parts and
each part is memorized separately.
● The whole method is found to be better than the part
method in case of a short poem, while the part method
proves more advantageous, if the poem is a larger one.
2. Space and Unspaced Method :

It follows the principal of work and rest.

After memorizing something for a period of time,
some rest is provided, and continues the memorization
again.
3. Repetition and Practice :

● Repetition with full understanding always helps in

achieving better results in the process of
Memorization.
● The thing repeated and practiced frequently are
remembered for a longer time.
 4. Principal of Association

 It is a technique for memorization in which the

new information that needs to be memorised is
associated (linked) to information that is not likely
to forget.
 In this, the newly learned material is linked to
knowledge which is fixed in memory.
For example, CAUTION for cancer symptoms.
 5. Grouping and Rhythm

 Grouping facilitates easy learning and recall.

For example, addhar number memorized easily by
splitting it into groups. 523422316401
5234 2231 6401
 Rhythm is easy method learning and memorizing in sing song fashion.
Arrangement of things in the form of rhythm and rhyme.
For example, ABC song… Multiplication tables
 6. Recitation

 The Learner reads a content once or twice,

then tries to recites (repeat aloud) and recall.
This method is called self-recitation.
 It helps in self evaluation and the learner can
write down the points that he is unable to recall.
 7. Utilizing many senses as possible

 Things are better learnt and remembered, when

they are presented through more than one sense.
8. Pulling at all Together
● Organizing and ordering information can
significantly improve Memory.
● By organizing and adding meaning to the
material prior to learning facilitate better
memorization.
 9. Funnel approach
● The funnel approach means learning general concepts
before moving on to specific details.
10. Acronym
● It is a technique for remembering
the names, phrases or steps by
using the first letter of each word
form new, memorable word.
VIBGYOR Eg:
 11. Acrostic
● An invented sentence,
where the first letter of
each word is a clue to
an idea need to
remember. It is very
useful for long lists of
things.
12. Mnemonics
Mnemonics is the technique of assisting the
memory by using a system of artificial aids such as
rhymes, sentences, diagrams, numbers etc.
to helping the recall of names, dates, facts,
acronms and figures.
● The Link Method
The link method is one of the oldest methods of
remembering lists, based on creating an association
between the elements of that list. The process works well
in combination of keeping to a story.
Eg:
● Peg system
A technique for memorization lists. Helpful when
need to remember items on a chronological order.
Pegging is linking a number or letters of the
alphabet to a word. Eg:
● Method of Loci

(Loci means location or place)

Method also called Mental Walk. It is based on the
assumption that you can best remember places that
you are familiar with, so if you can link something you
need to remember with a place that you know very
well.
 ● Chunking

This is a technique generally used when

remembering numbers. In it people can remember
between 5 and 9 things at a time.
For ex: In order to remember the phone number
9846100100 we need to separate it as
98 46 100 100 (chunks).