Memory testing methods and applications

Psychology

Memory Testing

Encoding is the first step in the process that creates a memory. It's a biological occurrence, embedded in the senses, that begins with perception. Memories begin with a perception and are then encoded and stored using electricity and chemicals. Nerve cells connect to other cells at a place called a synapse. All the action in the brain occurs at these synapses, where electrical pulses carrying messages leap across gaps between the cells (Mohs, n.d.).

Once a memory is created, it must be stored no matter how little of a time that it might be there. The experts think that there are three ways in which we store memories: first in the sensory stage; then in short-term memory; and ultimately, in long-term memory. Because there is no need for us to preserve everything in our brain, the different stages of human memory function as a sort of filter that helps to protect us from the deluge of information that we come into contact with every day (Mohs, n.d.).

During perception, information is registered in the brief sensory stage and usually lasts only a fraction of a second. It is the sensory memory that allows a perception such as a visual pattern, a sound, or a touch to linger for a brief moment after the stimulation is actually over.

After that first flash, the sensation is stored in short-term memory. The capacity of short-term memory is very limited. It can only hold about seven items for up to 20 or 30 seconds at a time. Important information is slowly transferred from short-term memory into long-term memory. The more often that a piece of information is repeated or used, the more likely that information will end up in a person's long-term memory (Mohs, n.d.).

When remember something, you retrieve the information on an unconscious level, and bring it into your conscious mind at will. While people sometimes think that have either a good or bad memory, it is believed that most people are good at remembering some things and not so good at remembering others (Mohs, n.d.).

There are simple memory tests that one can take in order to see how their memory fairs. I took one of these tests that asked a series of 19 questions. The first questions asked you to remember three specific words. The second question asked you to remember a name and address. The next eleven questions were yes or no questions about personal memory experiences. The last six questions asked you to name a series of things, including the things that were given in questions one and two. The scoring scale gave one point for each no answer that you provided in the eleven questions. Then you were to give yourself one point for each blank that you filled in for the last six questions. I scored 28 points on the test. The results were interpreted as follows:

"28-32 Congratulations! You have a better-than-average memory.

22-27 not bad, but you could benefit from some memory exercises.

15-21 your memory is a bit weak; memory exercises should help you improve your memory.

0-14 you may want to consider getting a professional evaluation" (Mohs, n.d.).

In regards to this memory test the first two questions in which you were given three words and then a name and address to remember, the concept of encoding was being used. In order to retrieve these pieces of information from my memory, I first had to encode them. Once they were encoded they were stored first in my sensory memory, and then in my short-term memory. Since things are usually only stored in ones short-term memory for up to 20 to 30 seconds and it took me longer than that to get to the question on the test that asked me to recall these, they obviously passed into my long-term memory as well.

Retrieving these pieces of information was rather easy since it had not been very long since I had first been exposed to them. There were other pieces of information that was asked in subsequent questions that was more difficult to recall. One question asked to name the last three mayors of the city. I did eventually come up with the answer, but it took several seconds before the names came to me. Another question, with which I had difficulty recalling the answer to, was one that asked me to name the main course that had been for dinner for the last to evenings. And even though I had cooked dinner the night before I could not for the life of me remember what it had been. I did finally remember it after a minute or so. The explanation for this can be that the information had not been encoded very well since it took me a long time to recall it. I guess it was lucky for me that there wasn't a time limit on the test or that there were no penalties for taking longer to answer some questions over others.