Memory is also considered as a process in which the human brain encodes, stores and extracts input information. According to the different ways of encoding, storing and extracting information and the different storage time, memory can be divided into three systems: instantaneous memory, short-term memory and long-term memory.
Second, the characteristics and relationship of the three memory systems:
(1) Instantaneous memory:
Sporring, an American psychologist, has proved that you can remember more when you first read a card, but it can last for a short time. Sporring calls it a memory that you can keep for a short time after reading a card.
Instantaneous memory, also known as sensory memory or sensory recording, refers to the instantaneous memory in which information is quickly recorded in the sensory channel after the external stimulus is presented once in a very short time. Generally, the instantaneous memory of vision is called image memory, and the instantaneous memory of hearing is called memory.
Characteristics of instantaneous memory:
1, the coding mode of instantaneous memory, that is, the mode of instantaneous memory information, is the image of external stimulus. Therefore, it has a distinct image.
2. The instantaneous memory capacity is large, but the retention time is short. The capacity is 9-20 digits, and the time is less than 4 seconds.
Image memory is 0.25- 1 sec, and sound memory can exceed 1 sec and not exceed 4 seconds.
If you pay attention to the information in instantaneous memory, or when you realize the information in instantaneous memory, the information will be transferred to short-term memory. Otherwise, the information you didn't notice will disappear after 1 second, that is, it will be forgotten.
(2) Short-term memory:
Refers to the memory that is kept within 1 minute after the external stimulus is presented in a very short time.
Characteristics of short-term memory:
1, the capacity of short-term memory is limited, usually 7 2, which is 5-9 items, which is what we usually call memory span. In order to expand the capacity of short-term memory, lexical chunks can be used.
2. In short-term memory, the materials of spoken and written languages are mostly auditory codes, that is, it is the sounds of spoken and written languages that are easy to remember, not their images. The material of non-spoken words is mainly the memory of images, and the images of visual memory occupy a more important position. In addition, there is a small amount of semantic memory.
3. The information in short-term memory is currently being processed, so it can be realized. Short-term memory includes both information transferred from instantaneous memory and information extracted from long-term memory, both of which are currently being processed, so short-term memory is also called working memory.
4. After retelling, the information of short-term memory may be transferred to long-term memory system.
(3) Long-term memory:
Long-term memory refers to the memory that is kept for more than 1 minute after the external stimulus is presented in a very short time.
Characteristics of long-term memory:
1. The capacity of long-term memory is infinite, regardless of the type and quantity of information.
2. Long-term memory coding includes semantic coding and image coding.
If the information stored in long-term memory is not intentionally recalled, people will not realize it. Only when people need to use the existing knowledge and experience can the information stored in long-term memory be extracted into short-term memory, and people can realize it.
4. The forgetting of long-term memory is caused by natural decline or interference. Interference can be divided into forward suppression and backward suppression. Proactive inhibition refers to the interference of previously learned materials on learning materials after memory and recall. Backward inhibition refers to the interference of post-learning materials with pre-learning materials for memory and recall. Serial position effect is a very obvious example of the influence of interference on memory effect.
The serial position effect is the influence of the position of memory materials in the series on the memory effect. The two ends of a series have better memory effect than the middle material, which is the position effect of the series. The beginning of the series has a better memory effect than the middle material, which is also called the first cause effect or the first cause effect. The material at the end of the series is easier to remember than the material in the middle of the series, which is also called recency effect or Recent Effect.