Have you ever found yourself in that awkward situation where
you cannot quite remember a word or someone’s name, but it is right “on the tip
of your tongue”? This and many other types of memory lapses are normal in
people of all ages. Short term memory simply means that you are retaining the
information received for a short period, like a telephone number used to order
a pizza. Scientists believe that all information is initially entered into
short-term storage, where it stays until the brain has time to consolidate it
into long-term memory. If at any time something interrupts the rehearsal before
consolidation takes place, the information would be lost. Long term memory takes
place when you have formed neural pathways for storing ideas and information
which can then pass and be recalled weeks, months, or even years later. To
create these pathways, you must make a deliberate attempt to encode the
information in the way that you intend to recall it later. If you prefer visual
memory, material must be actively visualized. Auditory memory can be enhanced
by speaking aloud, for example when you study. Recall is then sought by
listening for (remembering) what you heard, saw, etc. This encoding process is
called active learning.
The following video can give you a glimpse at what it may be like to live without
memory.
There are many brain diseases that can cause memory complications;
among them is Alzheimer’s disease which is a form of dementia which not only
causes problems in memory but also in thinking and behavior. Symptoms will
usually start off slow and get worse over time, eventually becoming severe
enough to interfere with daily tasks. Some forms of brain damage due to
accidents can also cause Amnesia, which is another type of memory loss. In this
case, memory can be either totally or partially lost depending on the extent of
the damage. People with amnesia are usually lucid and know who they are, but
have trouble learning new information and forming new memories. In most situations
where there is brain damage, the person would have to undergo extensive therapy
to help them recover. There is currently
no specific treatment for amnesia, but techniques for enhancing memory can
help.
San Juanita, This was a great post and it brought to light the horrible effects of memory loss; also its effects on an individual and the toll it takes on their families. It was heartbreaking to hear the gentleman in the video not be able to recall what was just said to him or the names of any of his family members. It was reassuring to know that at least he recognized his wife. Great post!
You bring up good points in your post. It is true we tend to momentarily forget what we want to say or that one word thats driving us crazy for us to look up in our memory bank. But like you said this is all do to the long and short term memory we have instilled in our biology. Alzheimer's is a terrible disease in which has effected the lives of many. Through your video it depicted of how the loss memory can impair our function to communicate and think. Great Post!
San Juanita,
ReplyDeleteThis was a great post and it brought to light the horrible effects of memory loss; also its effects on an individual and the toll it takes on their families. It was heartbreaking to hear the gentleman in the video not be able to recall what was just said to him or the names of any of his family members. It was reassuring to know that at least he recognized his wife. Great post!
San Juanita,
ReplyDeleteYou bring up good points in your post. It is true we tend to momentarily forget what we want to say or that one word thats driving us crazy for us to look up in our memory bank. But like you said this is all do to the long and short term memory we have instilled in our biology. Alzheimer's is a terrible disease in which has effected the lives of many. Through your video it depicted of how the loss memory can impair our function to communicate and think. Great Post!