 memory.
Free Recall – when an accident happens news reporter asks witness to know what happened. The witness recalls freely and describes the incident.
Cued Recall – when the accident is recalled by the eye witness; the reporters asks him about criminal’s identification (how he looks, what he was wearing) which the eye witness might not able to recall if he is not given hints.
Recognition Memory – once the suspects of the accidents are captured by the police; eye witness is asked to recognize the criminals.
Encoding and Retrieval of Information from Memory
Encoding is a process of observing and converting the information into a form which is stored in short and long term memory of human memory (Mohs, 2011). Retrieval is the process in which the human brain brings back the information from his mind’s storage of memory.
Variable of encoding of information
Intention to learn
Utilization of imagery
Example of encoding of information
Intention to learn effects the encoding of information in our minds. For example while preparing for my exams; how hardly I memorize the lectures depends on my intention to learn.
Variable of retrieval of information
Use of mnemonic devices
Lack of interference
Example of Retrieval of information from memory
Things I like the most and closer to me; I place them in the top shelf of my cupboard having special association with them. Whenever I need anything closer to me; I always look for it in my top shelf.
Learning without Any Real Awareness or Intention to Learn
Learning can occur without real awareness or intention to learn. It is because of unconscious processing of our brains. Such kind of learning is known as the adaptive unconsciousness and learning by osmosis.
I learnt French without knowing that I am learning this language. I learnt because people around me speak this language.
Sometimes a song plays in my mind not because it’s my favorite song. It is because that I heard the song in some shop or TV channel.
Mnemonic Used in Learning Material
A learning technique which is used to encourage information retention is known as Mnemonic (Kelly, 2009). In this technique, musical nodes and memory tools are used for learning material. For example;
We all remember complete ABC with the rhyme.
When I was a kid while solving algorithms problems I use to remember a phrase (some people have curly brown hair through proper brushing). This phrase helps me to remember all three formulas of algorithms related to Cos, Sin, Tan.
Forgetting an Intentional or Unintentional Act
According to Jones (2009) forgetting can be both intentional act and unintentional act. Some memories are intentionally forgotten by humans; such memories are known as suppressing memories. Memories which are forgotten unintentionally are known as repressing memories. Examples
The memory of intentionally forgetting the fight with a best friend
Forgetting someone’s name is unintentional act
Forgetting the lyrics of a song after listening to it numerous times is an unintentional act
Recovering Repressed Memories
Repressed memories can be recovered (Loftus, 1993) in the form of flashbacks or also through some external stimuli (medications or therapies). Either way these memories do not come in right sequence (Grow Media, 2005). These memories in form of flashbacks can be easily manipulated and can be false memories.
I have phobia of lizards without knowing about the event after which I got afraid of lizards
After having numerous fights in childhood, we still have good relation with siblings because the memories have been repressed.
Events and conditions which invoke extreme and intense emotions are most likely remembered by the human beings. For example, I remember I was planning to visit a friend at the incident to 9/11. The incident became a historical event and memories related to that event are still in my mind.
A set of diverse cognitive capacities which retain and re-enact information and past experiences is known as ‘Memory’. The factors affecting the memory can be both internal and external (Krell, 1990).
Internal and External Fact