Memory properties: volume, speed of memorization and reproduction, strength

Since ancient times, people have been interested in the properties of memory. One Greek myth tells about the river Lethe, which lies on the way to the kingdom of the dead. Its waters, bestowing oblivion, symbolize ending, completion. Dead means those who have lost their memory. In contrast, another myth tells of the goddess Mnemosyne, the mother of the muses. It symbolizes the beginning. Creative people turn to her in search of inspiration. To live, to develop, to create means to remember. These two myths clearly demonstrate the importance of the phenomenon in question.

• What is memory?
• Key Features
• Types of memory
• How to improve memory?

What is memory?

Memory is the preservation, accumulation and further reproduction of received information in the form of knowledge or skills.

From a physiological point of view, memory is one of the functions of the brain. Each event is “recorded” by certain zones. Neurons act as material carriers. A block of information corresponds to neural connections that are updated or changed if necessary. The number of “carriers” at the disposal of the brain (and therefore the volume of information) is impressive: 20 billion cells that create several billion connections.

From a psychological point of view, the properties of memory are deeply individual and depend on innate talents, upbringing, character, and age. But everyone can and should develop. Memory is the basis of the ability to learn. The cognitive process is not limited to reflecting the surrounding world and involves the reorganization of existing experience, and therefore the anticipation and creation of a new one.

Basic theories of memory

A person receives different impressions about the world around him.
They leave a trace, are stored, consolidated, and, if necessary and possible, these impressions are reproduced. These processes are called memory. S.L. Rubinstein said that without memory a person would become a creature of the moment with a dead past for the future. The functioning of society and man without memory is impossible. Experts believed that the most developed branch of psychology was memory, but further study of its laws made memory one of the key problems of science. There is no single and complete theory of memory today.

1. Psychological theories of memory are represented by a number of different directions:

• An associative direction, the central concept of which is association. Association means connection, connection and acts as a mandatory principle of all mental formations. The essence of the principle is the following: if certain mental formations arise in consciousness simultaneously or one after another, then an associative connection is formed between them. As a result, when any element of this connection reappears, a representation of all elements arises in consciousness;
• Gestaltism. The main concept of this direction is the concept of gestalt. This concept denotes an entire structure that cannot be reduced to the sum of its constituent parts. The basis for the formation of connections is the organization of material according to the principle of isomorphism - similarity in form and can only be realized as a result of the activity of the subject;
• Personal activity. This direction is gaining recognition and considers activity as a factor determining the formation of all its mental processes, including the memory process. The process of memorization, preservation and reproduction is determined by the significance of the material in the subject’s activity;

Finished works on a similar topic

• Coursework Theories of memory and their features 460 rub.
• Abstract Theories of memory and their features 230 rub.
• Test work Theories of memory and their features 190 rub.

Receive completed work or specialist advice on your educational project Find out the cost

• Physiological theories of memory. They have a close connection with the teachings of I.P. Pavlova on the laws of higher nervous activity. This is the theory of “memory at the physiological level.” This physiological basis of memorization is a conditioned reflex as an act of forming a connection between new and already fixed content. The concept of reinforcement here becomes of great importance for understanding the causality of this act. Reinforcement is the achievement of an immediate goal by an individual’s actions;
• Physical theory of memory. The authors of this direction believe that any nerve impulse, passing through a certain group of neurons, leaves a physical trace, the materialization of which is expressed in electrical and mechanical changes in synapses;
• Biochemical theories of memory. At the present stage of studying the mechanisms of memory, there is an increasing convergence of the neurophysiological with the biochemical level, which is confirmed by the research conducted. As a result of the research, a hypothesis emerged that the memorization process has a two-stage nature. At the first stage, a short-term electrochemical reaction occurs in the brain, which causes reversible physiological changes in cells. Based on the first, the second stage arises, i.e. the actual biochemical reaction associated with the formation of new protein substances. These specific chemical changes, according to supporters of this theory, underlie the mechanisms of the processes of fixation, preservation, and reproduction of traces.

Need some teacher advice on a similar topic? Ask a question to the teacher and get an answer in 15 minutes! Ask a Question

Key Features

Memory is characterized by the following parameters:

1. volume;
2. accuracy;
3. speed;
4. duration;
5. strength.

Volume shows how much information can be absorbed. On average, a person uses no more than five percent of the available resource, and this figure can easily increase.

Accuracy refers to the number of minor details remembered. For example, dates, elements of clothing, interior design, exact wording. The speed of memorization and assimilation of information is largely an innate indicator. If you purposefully develop it, other characteristics will increase. The same goes for playback speed. The faster the brain reproduces the necessary information, the more effectively the accumulated experience is used.

The next parameter is the storage duration, depending on the situation and goals. Some moments are remembered for years, others are forgotten immediately. How long information is stored depends on the emotional background of assimilation. The same rule applies to other characteristics. Let's give an example. Traveling the same route by bus every day, you are unlikely to remember what the trees and buildings look like outside the window. Imagine now that the door accidentally pinched you, and the vehicle drove off without noticing it. The images that enter the brain in such an environment will be remembered for a long time, down to the smallest details.

Memory research in Russian psychology

The domestic direction in the study of memory is associated mainly with the general psychological theory of activity, where memory acts as a special type of this activity.
In this direction, such scientists as A.N. Leontyev, P.I. Zinchenko, A.A. Smirnov, studied the composition of mnemonic actions and operations, the dependence of memory productivity on the goals and means of memorization, the comparative productivity of voluntary and involuntary memorization, etc. The study of memory as an activity was initiated by the French scientist P. Janet, who was one of the first to interpret memory as a system of actions , which are focused on memorizing, processing and storing material.

In Russia, this concept was developed in the cultural-historical theory of the origin of higher mental functions, where the stages of phylogenetic and ontogenetic development of memory were identified.

The activity theory of memory explained the formation of connections-associations between ideas, memorization, storage, and reproduction of material based on what a person does with this material in the process of mnemonic processing.

Features in which the memorization mechanism works better or worse were discovered in his research by A.A. Smirnov. They found that actions are remembered better than thoughts, and those associated with overcoming obstacles are more firmly remembered. With the advent of computer technology and the development of programming, with the beginning of the development of cybernetics, the search began for optimal ways to accept, process, and store information by a machine. The process of technical and algorithmic modeling of memory processes has begun. The rich material accumulated is very useful for understanding the laws of memory, especially since the human brain is also a highly complex electronic computing machine.

Types of memory

According to the duration of activity, memory is divided into short-term, operational and long-term. The difference between them is the stability of the connections that form in the brain.

1. The first is intended for orientation in space, the operating time is no more than 30 seconds.
2. RAM serves to update the information needed to perform a specific task.
   It functions as long as this type of activity requires. It's easy to check your RAM capacity. Ask them to dictate the numbers in random order. Then repeat what you heard. It is not difficult to complicate the task: first answer any number of questions, then reproduce the sequence. Start with five numbers. The next set will consist of six and so on. On average, a person is able to remember from seven to nine numbers. If you reach twelve, this is an indicator of very high RAM productivity.
3. Long-term memory - remembering for a long time. As a rule, the brain better assimilates information in which a person is interested.

Based on the type of mental activity, they distinguish motor, verbal-logical, figurative and emotional memory. The first is the basis for studying any action and is well developed among dancers and athletes. Verbal-logical is aimed at fixing abstract material and is associated with the center of the brain, which is responsible for processing logical information. Characterized by high fidelity. Figurative memory, or the ability to reproduce figurative material, is divided into visual, auditory, and tactile. It is best developed in children and falls into second place with age. Memory for feelings is the ability to reproduce a particular emotional state.

Foreign theories of memory

To this day, the associative theory of memory, which arose in the 17th century, has not lost its scientific significance. Its active development took place in the 18th and 19th centuries. This theory was most widespread in England and Germany. The connection between individual mental elements was developed by G. Ebbinghaus, G. Müller, A. Pilzecker and others. In line with this theory, memory is understood as a complex system of short-term and long-term stable associations. With the help of this theory, the mechanisms and laws of memory were discovered and described, for example, the law of forgetting by G. Ebbinghaus. As a result of research, it was found that 60% of all information received is forgotten within the first hour. After 6 days, less than 20% of the total number of initially learned syllables remains. According to the associative theory, individual elements of information are remembered, stored and reproduced not in isolation, but in certain logical and semantic associations with others.

Later the theory encountered intractable problems. She could not explain the selectivity of human memory, which selects a certain one from all incoming information.

The association theory was replaced by the Gestalt theory at the end of the 19th century. The main principle and basic concept for it was not the association of primary elements, but their integral organization - gestalt, the laws of formation, which are determined by memory. Proponents of this theory pursued the main idea that when memorizing and reproducing, the material appears in the form of an integral structure, and not a random set of elements.

Despite the fact that representatives of the theory managed to find a psychological explanation for some facts of memory selectivity, they were faced with another difficult problem. The essence of the problem was related to the formation and development of human memory in phylogenesis and ontogenesis. The dependence of memory development on practical activity was not raised or resolved.

Representatives of other areas of psychological research, such as behaviorism and psychoanalysis, could not give a satisfactory answer about the genesis of memory. Behaviorists were close to associationists, with the only difference being that they paid a lot of attention to the study of memory in learning processes. Representatives of psychoanalysis discovered and described the psychological mechanisms of subconscious forgetting associated with the functioning of motivation.

At the beginning of the 20th century, a semantic theory of memory emerged. Its representatives were A. Binet, K. Bühler. When memorizing and reproducing material, the theory brought semantic content to the fore.

Conclusion

Thus, we can say that various Western theories considered the development of memory from different points of view - from the point of view of associations, structuring material during memorization, from the point of view of reinforcement, the formation of semantic connections. Z. Freud, in turn, attached importance to the role of emotions, motives, and memory needs.

How to improve memory?

A good memory is a prerequisite for learning. Any activity depends on the quality of memory. Special techniques that are based on the characteristics of this brain function will help improve the quality and volume of memorized material.

The transition of information from the short-term to the long-term sphere is associated with biochemical processes, which require at least 30 minutes to occur. The quality of learning is directly related to the number of repetitions, however, memorization alone is not enough. Logical analysis of the material, its structuring, visualization, comparison with something familiar makes the process more efficient, allowing you to master a larger volume. Break the information into blocks, each of which is placed in a certain place on an imaginary or drawn “football field” (or come up with your own version). Association of key points with some visual or sound images helps. Visualization is applicable when memorizing numbers - just arrange them in the form of a picture that will be associated with the desired event. To summarize, we will say that the foundation of these methods lies in filling new and still alien information with content based on past experience.

You need to train your memory regularly. When the acquisition of new knowledge stops, this function weakens. For training, as well as for improvement, you need to study something every day - a couple of foreign words, a poem. A developed memory helps in creative pursuits, makes life rich and meaningful, and makes thinking sharp.

Laws and patterns

The laws and patterns of memory suggest rules by which the memorization process can be facilitated .

Thus, Arthur Dumchev, a modern Russian specialist in the field of memory, in his book “Remember Everything” identifies 12 laws of memory:

1. The Law of Setting: calls for setting a goal to remember, perhaps even setting boundaries in the form of deadlines.
2. Law of vivid impressions : associations caused by emotions allow you to remember an important event much more vividly, especially if the emotions are positive.
3. Law of interest : all the most interesting things are imprinted in a person’s memory for a long time.
4. Law of comprehension : memorization occurs more easily if a person perceives the meaning, the essence of the material.
5. Law of Retroactive Inhibition : This simple term advises taking breaks in the processes of memorization, since this aspect of human capabilities is also characterized by the annoyingness of large amounts of information.
6. The law of proactive inhibition: similar to the previous one, alternating tasks saves you from an overabundance of memorized material.
7. Law of Action : An ancient Chinese proverb attributed to Confucius states: “Tell me and I will forget, show me and I will remember, let me do and I will learn.”
8. Law of Prior Knowledge : The memorization process is based on experience in a certain area, the memorized information is associated with the stored material.
9. Law of repetition : “...the more often information is repeated, the easier it is to assimilate...” the author writes about this law, repeating this phrase three times.
10. The law of simultaneous impressions: pay attention to what memories the smell of something evokes in you, the music you heard several months ago (remember where you listened to it, what your mood was).
11. Law of edge: most often the first and last are remembered.
12. The law of incompleteness: an unfinished phrase settles more firmly in memory.

Also, the patterns of memory in the psychological literature are usually associated with types of memorization: involuntary and voluntary.

If this concerns involuntary memorization , then such natural conditions often appear unexpectedly and abruptly, which makes it possible to firmly remember the event associated with them.

This, for example, could be a loud, sharp sound, an unexpected change in action, a suddenly turned on bright light and other irritants.

In the second type of memorization, a person sets himself to remember certain information.

The patterns of this type of memorization are based on:

• understanding the meaning of information, achieving its core, essence;
• creating an information structure;
• presentation of this information in an integral system consisting of elements - its integral part;
• drawing up plans, diagrams, tables, clusters, graphs;
• compiling a supporting summary containing more memorable keywords;
• the use of mnemonics, or mnemonics, - special techniques that facilitate memorization.

The last point is very diverse and may arouse interest. When used correctly, the memorization process becomes like a game, which is useful, for example, for children.

Among the number of mnemonic techniques, the most effective are:

1. Association method (for example, to remember people’s names, you need to make similar words with them - “Lyuba - loves”, “Zhenya - gets married”, etc.)
2. Creating an image of memorized information (to make it easier to remember how to spell a vocabulary word correctly, imagine it written on a road sign, a sign of a supermarket that we go to every day).
3. Chain method (to remember the list of products needed for shopping in a store, we imagine them interacting in pairs: “milk and bread” - in our minds we see how the bread falls into the milk and drowns in it).
4. “Language of numbers” (to remember, for example, the year 1984, we assign a symbol to each number: 1 - needle, 9 - snake, 8 - hourglass, 4 - stop with a roof).

How to erase your memory of a person? Read about it here.

Summary of various theories of memory

Guided by the associative theory of memory, the German scientist G. Ebbinghaus deduced the following patterns of memorization:

Need advice from a teacher in this subject area? Ask a question to the teacher and get an answer in 15 minutes! Ask a Question