Memory Question?

Question

Ok I have a question related to memory...I read in "Im ok -- You're ok" that you don't ever actually "forget" anything that you pay conscious attention to, rather it's like everything you pay attention to gets "recorded" and stored in your brain from birth and the difficulty is whether or not you are actually able to recall it. However, my psychology professor disagrees with this and after asking him, he disagreed saying we do forget plenty all the time. Obviously for exam purposes I'm going to have to take the professors word for it, but does anyone know which is correct? Or even more importantly, have links or citation to any actual experiments that prove the validity of either assertion?

Answer 1

In my perception class we learned that anything that is actually learned creates a wrinkle in your brain.. and that memory is as simple as activating the cells in or around that wrinkle... the path to that wrinkle is what is lost... and the memory with it.

So while memories may be permanently stored in your brain.. they may be practically forgotten due to the fact that without outside stimulation.. they will never be remembered.

Answer 2

Memory is helped by practise. In the past when the written word was scarce, scholars memorized huge books. Here are a few sources don't know if they will help

General: W. Whately Smith. Experiments on Memory and Affective Tone. British Journal of Psychology (General Section), 1921, Vol. XI, p. 236.

Reference: Bartlett, F.C. Remembering: A study in experimental and social
psychology. Cambridge, England; Cambridge University Press.

http://faculty.washington.edu/eloftus/Articles/sciam.htm Loftus on ‘false memories’
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/dna/interviews/loftus2.html
interview with Loftus on eyewittnes testimony
http://www.criminaljustice.org/CHAMPION/ARTICLES/98jan01.htm application of
Loftus’ work in criminal justice

http://www.brightsurf.com/EDU_news_092002.html

Title : A QUASI-RANDOM SEQUENCE FOR MEMORY EXPERIMENTS

Corporate Author : AIR FORCE CAMBRIDGE RESEARCH CENTER WASHINGTON D C OPERATIONAL APPLICATIONS LAB

Personal Author(s) : NICKERSON,RAYMOND S. ; BROWN,CHARLES R.

Report Date : NOV 1961

Answer 3

In a sence, you are both right. As a baby, it is like a blank slate. So when you learn how to walk, talk, learn colors and numbers; its placed in your long term memory. That is the vital items that pretty much rule your entire life. Answers for tests or lyrics to a song, usually go in your short term memory; since you wont need it for everyday life most of the time(unless its for a profession). The book is right for long term memory. Like if a person just came out of a coma, they would have to work hard to re-access the long term memory to get to walking or feeding themself again. Your prof. is right when it comes to short term memory.

Thats what i think. Im no professional. But i was in a coma for 3-5 days and had to access my long term memory to walk again.

Answer 4

I think your theory is correct. I remember things from when I was like, 2. We lived in an old farm house. My mom can't believe the things I tell her that happened when I was younger. I swear, I remember things from 16 years ago, but I can't remember what just happened yesterday until a week later.