subject: What is Memory [print this page] In one sentence memory is basically the ability to store information to be retrieved at a later time. This can be information that you have learned for educational purposes, interesting facts, jokes or events that you need to remember. The things that you remember can be remembered on a short term or long term basis, depending on what type of information you are processing.
Short Term Memory
Short term memory comes in handy when you need to remember a number to dial, or an internet address, as your brain is designed to remember on average up to 7 items at a time. However, short term memory is not stored in your brain, and therefore as soon as you are done with it, it leaves your mind, and you cannot retrieve it later.
Long Term Memory
Long term memory on the other hand is stored in your brain so that you can retrieve it later when you need the information. This is information that you will need for a test, information to do your job, or information about family members, friends or events that you do not want to forget.
How it Works
It sounds very simple, but the process of storing and retrieving information involves many parts of your brain. Some of the parts involved are the hippocampus, amygdala and cerebral cortex.
The ability to move information around depends on chemicals known as neurotransmitters. The neurons communicate with each other, and when new information enters, these neurons pass the information along and store it in the proper place in the brain.
But in order for the new information to be stored you need to concentrate on a single piece of information for up to 8 seconds. If you do not concentrate on the new information for this long, your brain will not be able to process and store this new information to be retrieved later. Therefore when you are trying to learn something new you should avoid multitasking, as it will hinder your ability to process new information.
Retrieving Information
After you have stored new information, your brain needs to activate the same path it took when it stored the information in your brain. This is why it helps you to repeat what you have learned as it helps your brain to remember the path more easily.
The more you use your memory, the stronger it will become allowing you to remember things in a short period of time, which you might never have thought to be possible.
