What is memory?

In our daily life, we come across many moments, events and places which we remember effortlessly. Remembering things is not wonder to us. We don’t focus on what to remember or what not. Our brain execute memory function incessantly.  When we try to contemplate the brain function, we find it very complex. Several questions rise up in our mind. Like what is memory? Where is it stored in the brain? Is it hoarded in a tiny region like a IC or is scattered? What are the types of memories? How does it look like? And many more such questions fascinates us!!

Actually, memory is our ability to store, encode and then recall information from the present and past experiences in the human brain. In simple words, memory is associated with ” thinking back” or ” retrieving information from mind”. This type of description creates a conscious awareness in the person that he/she is remembering something of the past. For example, we might remember the birthdays of our close friends. So, memory is the integral function of our brain that correlates our present with our past experiences. The different discretion and distinction of information leads to us understand about different types of memory. Psychologically, memory is evolved in two different forms, declarative (or explicit) memory and non declarative (or implicit )memory.

Explicit and implicit memory

Explicit Memory refers to conscious retrieval associated with facts and events. As a fact, we know New Delhi is the capital of India and as events we can easily remind our visit to any place. In case of explicit recalling, the direct recognition of information from the past, and such tests are called explicit memory test.

     On the other hand, implicit memory refers to unconscious retrieval of information from the past. In the implicit memory tests, people are asked to perform some task and measure the that how past experiences and knowledge affects the performing of task. Most of the research conducted so far is focused on explicit memory but now researchers taking interest now in implicit memory also.

     As any student who is preparing for any competitive exam can tell you, it takes a lot of hard work and effort to perpetrate the information into memory. However, some other information, actions, events and experiences can be introduced into our memory with little or very less effort. For example,  you might hear a catchy song with doing other explicit task. After some days, you will find yourself that you are humming the same song or tune.

Many a  times we find a particular errand to be extremely difficult or pretty easy. On which basis we do it? How are we able to discriminate whether a task is hard or easy?

When we try to perform any function consciously, we find it little harder to perpetrate into memory. But when performing unconsciously it seems to be quite easy.

Explicit Memory 

It is the information stored in our memory when we try to deliberately remember something ( like memorising formulas, historical events, countries capitals). Explicit memory is declarative in nature as we consciously try remember and recall the information. 

Types of Explicit memory

Episodic Memory:

This is long-term memory (LTM) of a specific event and is a storage of observational information about your specific life event, such as what you did on your last birthday, your first day in  college. It enables you to recall your situational and emotional event when you tried to propose a girl first time.

Semantic Memory

Semantic memory points your general knowledge, concepts, ideas, and facts and refers to conceptual priming. It differs from episodic memory, which refers to the memory of experiences and  specific events of life.

Implicit Memory 

Accidentally formed memories are implicit memory. The information perpetrates into the memory unconsciously.  It is non declarative in nature.

Examples 

In examples implicit memory include daily life routine, singing favourite song, riding bicycle and following way to your home.

Remembering your birthday.

Brushing your teeth.

Knowing how to walk. 

Speaking in our native language.

Knowing how to use TV remote. 

Types of Memory