Objectives

• describe how sensory inputs are stored as memories

• differentiate between various forms of memory

• explain how the process of learning occurs

• neuron

• system

Prerequisite Vocab

• memory

New Vocab

Vocabulary

the ability of the brain to store and recall information

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Memory

Memory is the ability of the brain to store and recall information. Memory begins with an input. You can relate this to a computer. In order for a computer to do anything, there needs to be some input provided. However, the brain receives so many inputs that it cannot possibly process everything. For this reason, the brain controls the inputs that it receives.

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Memory

Sensory Memory

Your body receives information about the environment through sensory receptors. Your brain will store memory about these sensory inputs as sensory memory. However, this form of memory typically only lasts a few seconds depending on the sensory input.

Have you ever had a situation where your friend is talking to you, and you begin to lose focus on the conversation? When your friend gets your attention, you might be able to pick up the conversation where they left off. This is the result of your sensory memory recalling that audio information.

Short-Term Memory

With short-term memory, an individual is able to recall a limited amount of information. Generally, short-term memory is limited to about seven pieces of information. However, this can vary depending on the complexity of the information.

Short-term memory is also dependent on the type of input. This means that short-term memory retention can be affected by how you receive the information, such as if you see or hear the information.

Long-Term Memory

Select information that is considered meaningful or important is stored as long-term memory. This allows for future recall of this information. While not every input is saved as long-term memory, the brain is capable of storing a lot of information as long-term memory.

• recalls facts or events that are clear

• ex. vocab terms (semantic), a specific event that happened (episodic)

Explicit

• ​information that is not concrete

• ex. riding a bike (procedural), recalling information from a previous experience and applying it to a current one (priming)

Implicit

​Types of Long-Term Memory

You have learned that your brain is constantly creating and storing information in the form of memories. These memories allow an individual to recall specific details in order to engage with a specific situation. As this information becomes easier to recall, learning is considered to have occurred.

Learning results when the connections between neurons become stronger.

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Learning