As you know, every experience, movement or impression of a person in one way or another forms a certain trace that can persist for a very long period of time. In addition, under certain conditions, it can manifest itself again, and therefore become the subject of consciousness. What is memory? Are the types, functions and its main properties somehow interconnected? How exactly? These and other no less entertaining questions can be answered in the process of familiarizing yourself with the materials of the article. It would be advisable to first consider the concept directly.
Memory, memory functions
In simple terms, memory can be defined as recording (imprinting), preservation, and subsequent recognition and, if necessary, reproduction of traces of experience in the past. Such an interesting scheme allows you to accumulate information without losing old information, skills, knowledge.
From a scientific point of view, memory is a function of processing stimulus information. This is the most complex process of mentalnature, which contains several processes of private orientation, interconnected. So, any consolidation in relation to skills and knowledge must be attributed to the activity of memory. What problems, reflecting the category, features and functions of historical memory and national self-consciousness, exist today? It is important to note that in modern times, a range of complex issues arises before psychology. How are events recorded in memory? What are the physiological mechanisms of this process? Which of the techniques known today to a greater extent allow expanding memory, its types, and its functions?
Functional
As it turned out, memory as the highest mental function must be considered as a reflection of reality. So, in accordance with the concept, the main functions of memory are to consolidate, preserve and then reproduce the experience of past periods. It is through memory that the past and present of a person are connected. In addition, it gives the individual the opportunity to learn and develop.
In this chapter, it would be appropriate to consider the functions of human memory. This category contains five functions that complement each other and form a single puzzle, among which are the following:
- Memorization. In accordance with this provision, a person has the ability to memorize fundamentally new information for himself, which is based on previously fixed information. This memory function assumes that in the processphysical reproduction of the material, one way or another, the process of cognition begins, in which sensory memory takes part. Then, when the materials are already processed, it turns into short-term memory. In addition to the above, the presented function also uses operational memory, where the recognition and analysis of characteristics is carried out.
- Considering the basic functions of memory, one cannot fail to note the preservation. Thus, the duration of information storage in any case depends on the degree of its application. In other words, the more often a person uses memorized information, the longer they will be stored in memory. This memory function is also called archiving. Why? The fact is that in accordance with it, the process of retention and subsequent processing of the material is carried out. It is here that it is expedient to mention the semantic memory that characterizes mental functions. It is able to store concepts and definitions collected throughout a person's life. In addition, there is episodic memory, which indicates how certain concepts and definitions are connected at a particular moment with a particular person. Thus, the above two types of memory operate in tandem.
Reproduction and forgetting
In addition to memorization and storage, the following memory functions are known today:
- Replay is a memory function based on the use of long-lasting memory. It is thanks to this provision that the human brain can successfully repeat,display previously pinned information. It must be added that the individual reproduces the material in the same form as he remembers it. To do this, you just need to remember the most important details. This function of memory involves participation directly in the process of episodic memory. This is able to add to the playback some of the events associated with it. Events of this kind are usually called "reference points".
- Forgetting. It is important to note that the speed of the corresponding process depends primarily on time (expand the functions of historical memory). There are various reasons for forgetting, such as poor organization of the data and its nature. In addition, the frequency and age of application of information is taken into account. Another important reason is "interference". It is primarily associated with the negative impact of certain information. For example, if an individual learns a report, but in the process of implementing the procedure he learns unpleasant news, then he will not be able to achieve results in the memorization procedure. Moreover, as soon as a person talks about motivated (purposeful) forgetting, how he intentionally transfers information to the subconscious.
Conclusion
From the above, we can conclude that the central function of memory is nothing more than preservation. Why? The fact is that it is in the process of creating this procedure in the mind of a person that it is possible to assimilate important and useful information that allows an individual to become better, smarter, reach new heights and express incredibly interesting ideas. Howeverit should be remembered that all the memory functions presented above are closely related. That is why they can exist and “act” in a favorable way only in aggregate, in an organized system (discover the functions of historical memory and national self-consciousness).
Varieties of memory
To begin with, it should be noted that today the most general basis for defining different types of memory is the dependence of its features on the characteristics of activities associated with memorization and reproduction. So, in accordance with the following key criteria, separate types of memory are distinguished:
- Classification according to the nature of mental activity, which one way or another prevails in the process of any activity. So, it is customary to single out emotional, motor, verbal-logical and figurative memory.
- Classification according to the nature of the goals of the activity implies the presence of arbitrary and involuntary memory.
- Classification according to the duration of fixing and storing information, which is closely related to the role and place of the activity. So, memory is divided into operational, long-term and short-term.
Sensorial Memory Imprint
First of all, reveal the functions of historical memory and national identity. An entertaining exercise called direct sensory imprinting can help with this. This system is capable of holding a sufficiently full andan accurate picture of the world, which is somehow perceived through the senses. It is important to note that the duration of its preservation is very frivolous. So, it is only 0.1 -0.5 seconds. What needs to be done?
Tap your own hand with four fingers. Be sure to follow the direct sensations after they disappear. Thus, at first, the actual feeling of a pat is preserved, after that, only a memory of it.
Try moving your finger or pencil in different directions in front of your eyes, looking straight ahead. At the same time, pay attention to the rather blurry image that follows the subject in motion.
Close your eyes, then open them for a moment and close them again. Watch how the clear and distinct picture you see persists for some time, and then slowly disappears.
Short-term and long-term memory
It is important to note that short-term memory retains material that is characterized by one typology (sensory memory acts exactly the opposite). In this case, the retained information is not an absolute reflection of events occurring at the sensory level, but a direct (direct) interpretation of them. For example, if one or another phrase is formulated in the presence of a person, he will remember not so much the sounds that make it up as the words themselves. As a rule, five or six final units fromthe information provided. By making an effort on a conscious level (in other words, repeating information over and over again), a person has the ability to retain it in short-term memory for an indefinite time period.
Next, it would be appropriate to consider long-term memory. Thus, there is a convincing and obvious difference between the memory of events and situations of the distant past and the memory of an event that has just occurred. Long-term memory is extremely important, but at the same time extremely complex system of the studied category. It should be noted that the capacity of the above memory systems is very limited: the first consists of a certain number of storage units, the second - of a few tenths of a second. Nevertheless, there are still some limits in terms of the amount of long-term memory today, because the brain in one way or another serves as a finite device. It contains ten billion neurons. Each of them can hold a considerable amount of information. In addition, it is so large that, in practical terms, the memory capacity of the human brain can be considered unlimited. Thus, all information retained for more than two or three minutes should in any case be in long-term memory.
The main source of difficulties, which are closely related to long-term memory, is the question of finding the necessary materials, information. The amount of information that is stored in memory is incredibly large. That is why there is a pairing with quite serious difficulties. However, as a rule, with a strong desire to findthe necessary data can be very quickly.
Operational, motor and emotional memory
Under the operative memory should be understood the processes of a mnemonic nature, which are engaged in the maintenance of actual actions and operations. Such a memory is designed to retain information if it is subsequently forgotten. The storage period for this type of memory depends mainly on the associated task and can vary from two to three seconds to two to three days.
Motor memory is nothing but the process of remembering, saving and subsequent reproduction of various kinds of movements, as well as their systems. By the way, today in the world there are many people with a clear and overly pronounced predominance of this particular type of memory over others, which is a very interesting topic for psychologists.
Under the emotional memory should be considered the memory of feelings. Emotions somehow give a signal about how the satisfaction of human needs occurs. Thus, the feelings that a person has experienced and retained in memory appear as signals that either encourage action or deter action when a similar experience in the past caused negative experiences. That is why in theory and practice the concept of empathy is often singled out, which implies the ability to empathize, sympathize with another person or the hero of a book. This category is based on emotional memory.
Figurative and verbal-logical memory
Under figurative memory one should understand memory for pictures of life and nature, representations, as well as for tastes, sounds and smells. This type of memory is visual, auditory, tactile, olfactory, and also gustatory. While auditory and visual memory are developed, as a rule, quite well (that is, these varieties play the main role in the life orientation of an adequate person), olfactory, tactile and gustatory memory can truly be defined as professional types. Just like the corresponding sensations, they develop especially rapidly due to rather specific conditions of activity, reaching an incredible level under the condition of replacing or compensating for the missing types of memory, for example, in deaf or blind people.
The content of verbal-logical memory is nothing but human thoughts. The latter cannot exist without language (this is where the name of the species came from). Since thoughts can be embodied in different linguistic forms, their reproduction can be directed to the transmission of either only the key meaning of the information presented, or its verbal formulation in a literal sense. While the latter case involves the exclusion of subjecting the material to semantic processing, then literal memorization of it can be defined as not logical, but mechanical memorization.
Involuntary and arbitrary memory
Remembering and subsequent reproduction, where there is no special purpose to remember something, is called involuntary memory. In cases wherea similar process is purposeful, we are talking about arbitrary memory. Thus, in the latter situation, the processes associated with memorization and reproduction act as special mnemonic actions. It is important to note that the presented types of memory form two successive stages of development, which today are widely studied by psychologists and other interested persons who carry out one or another activity in the corresponding scientific field.
