Sensory memory
Brief storage of information from our five senses (sight, smell, taste, touch, and sound), lasting for less than a second to a few seconds before being processed or discarded.
Short-term memory (STM)
Also known as working memory, STM stores information for a limited period (around 15 to 30 seconds) and has a limited capacity (around 7 ± 2 items). Essential for tasks such as language processing, problem-solving, and mental calculations.
Long-term Memory (LTM)
More permanent memory storage system lasting from minutes to a lifetime. LTM is divided into explicit (declarative) memory and implicit (non-declarative) memory.
Long-term memory (LTM): This is the more permanent memory storage system, which can last from minutes to a lifetime. Long-term memories are stored in various forms, including:
Explicit Memory
Conscious recollections of facts and events, including episodic memory (personal experiences and specific events) and semantic memory (general knowledge, concepts, and facts). Associated brain regions include the hippocampus, medial temporal lobe, prefrontal cortex, and other cortical areas.
a. Explicit (declarative) memory: This type of memory includes conscious recollections of facts and events. Explicit memory can be further divided into two categories:
Episodic Memory
These are memories of personal experiences and specific events that occur in a particular time and place. These memories often include contextual details, such as emotions, sensations, and the sequence of events. Episodic memory is associated with the Hippocampus, Medial temporal lobe, and prefrontal cortex. It is also associated with the sensory, motor, and association cortices.
Autobiographical Memory
This is a subtype of episodic memory that specifically deals with the recollection of personally experienced events from one’s own life. Autobiographical memory encompasses a wide range of experiences, such as significant life milestones, personal relationships, and everyday occurrences.
Semantic Memory
t. This memory allows us to understand the world, language, and store general knowledge such as the meaning of words, historical facts, and scientific concepts. Semantic memory is also associated with the Temporal cortex, Prefrontal cortex, Hippocampus, and Medial temporal lobe. It is also associated with the visual, auditory, and motor cortices.
Implicit Memory
Unconscious memory not easily verbalized, including procedural memory (skills and habits), classical conditioning (associations between stimuli and reflexive responses), and priming (unconscious activation of specific associations).
b. Implicit (non-declarative) memory: This type of memory is unconscious and not easily verbalized. It includes:
i. Procedural memory: This refers to the memory for skills and habits, such as riding a bike or playing a musical instrument. These memories are often automatic and acquired through practice and repetition. As the actions associated with these memories are usually done without conscious thought, they should have no tie to Aetherius’s personality or Heuristics. Procedural memory is primarily stored in and managed by the cerebellum and basal ganglia, which are responsible for coordinating movement and motor learning.
ii. Classical conditioning: This involves learning associations between stimuli and reflexive responses, such as the famous Pavlov’s dog experiment. Classical conditioning is mediated by various brain structures, including the amygdala, which is involved in processing emotions and emotional learning.
-The user also takes the role of Pavlov in the initial training when deciding what memories to upload, while it is different, it is functionally similar.
iii. Priming: This is an unconscious activation of specific associations in memory, which can influence perception and behavior. Priming is associated with activity in various regions of the brain, including the neocortex and the medial temporal lobe.
State-dependent memory
Memory retrieval can be influenced by the individual’s internal state during encoding and recall. For example, if a person learns information while in a particular emotional or physiological state, they may be more likely to recall that information when they are in a similar state later on.
Mood-congruent memory
People tend to recall memories that are congruent with their current mood. For instance, when someone is feeling happy, they are more likely to remember positive experiences, whereas they might recall more negative memories when feeling sad.
The self-reference effect
Information that is related to oneself is typically better remembered than information that is not personally relevant. This is known as the self-reference effect, which suggests that relating new information to one’s self or personal experiences can enhance memory encoding and retrieval.
The von Restorff effect
Also known as the isolation effect, the von Restorff effect occurs when an item that stands out from its surroundings is more likely to be remembered. This could be due to increased attention and elaborative processing of the distinctive item.
The Zeigarnik effect
This effect refers to the tendency to remember uncompleted or interrupted tasks better than completed tasks. The Zeigarnik effect suggests that the brain continues to process and rehearse unfinished tasks, keeping them in memory for a longer period.
Context-dependent memory
Memory retrieval can be influenced by the external context or environment in which the information was initially encoded. If the context during recall matches the context during encoding, memory performance is typically improved.
Prospective memory
This type of memory involves remembering to perform a planned action or intention at a future time. Prospective memory is crucial for everyday functioning, such as remembering to take medication, attend appointments, or complete tasks.
The role of the hippocampus and other brain regions
The hippocampus is a critical brain structure for the formation and retrieval of long-term memories. However, other brain regions, such as the prefrontal cortex, amygdala, and various parts of the neocortex, also contribute to memory processes by supporting functions like attention, emotional processing, and the integration of information.
Flashbulb Memory
Flashbulb memories are vivid, detailed, and long-lasting memories of highly emotional or significant events, such as learning about a major news event or experiencing a personal tragedy. These memories are often subject to change or distortion over time, despite the strong emotional connection.
