What is meant by memory (human)?

Answer 1

Encoding, storage and retrieval i.e. changes in behaviour as a result of some kind of experience. It could involve recognition or recall etc.

You could usefully divide memory into short-term and long-term. STM lasts about 18-30 secs while LTM can last up to a lifetime i.e. decades.

You could also refer to sensory memory which is just fleeting; if attention is paid to incoming info, it could go into temporary storage i.e. STM. If rehearsed several times, it could be transferred into LTM which will last a lot longer. Memory will be affected by variables such as emotion, distinctiveness, whether aspects of it can be linked to other things...etc

Answer 2

oooh this is either a very simple question or a very complicated one....

either you can call it a 'database' (of sorts) in the brain used to store and retrieve past experiences and information...

or.....

it is a complex system in the brain made up on the working memory and long term memory or implicit and explicit memory...

Alan baddeley complicates working memory even further with the central executive and phonological loop for example but you would really need to read up on this (I'm still trying toget my head around it)

Technically no specific structure of cells has been found in the brain that directly associate with memory, which is why it is so complicated.. although areas (such asthe hippocampus) are known to play a complex part to some aspects of memory.

Sorry if this is more confusing than helpful.. It was my least favourite topic in Psychology and still confuses me even now :)

Answer 3

The ability to retain information after the original thing or thought is no longer present. For memory to occur three processes must take place. Encoding, Storage and retrieval of the information.

Answer 4

The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information

Answer 5

Stuff you remember?

Answer 6

imprints in your mind that you cannot forget