Memory performance under optimal and suboptimal circumstances

Memory: Under what circumstances is my memory the best and the worst and why I believe that to be so?

Many psychologists believe that humans never actually forget anything. While we may not be able to recall everything, every memory is actually stored in the brain. Evidence that points to this theory being correct includes that hypnotized people have been able to recall things that they could not remember when out of the trance, that traumatic events which have been blocked out can be recovered eventually, that people can fail to be able to recall a certain thing briefly but remember it later, and that people may not be able to recall something when asked about it in a certain way but if the question is phrased differently they can in fact remember it.

In the psychology of remembering there are three issues. You are aware of something. You code it in some way. You recall it later." [2] Additionally, false memories can occur if certain methods of suggestion are used.

Understanding these psychological functions of memory helps me understand why my memory is "better" under certain circumstances than at other times.

In order for me to consciously remember something without extreme prompting, I have to have consciously noticed it. If I am to recall an event, I must have witnessed that event, and made that observation consciously. (Though I have, on occasion, suddenly recalled events that I didn't previously realize I had observed consciously.) the fewer distractions I had during and immediately following the event, the more likely I am to recall it fully.

If I am deep in conversation with someone when a red car passes by, I may not recall that red car. However, if I had been watching the road without talking to someone, I would be more likely to remember the car. This is considered to be normal for most people. [4]

When we are aware of something, we code the information for storage, through making a mental picture, associating it with a sound, or relating it to what we already know. [5] if I consciously make a mental picture or cue to help me remember something, I am also more likely to recall it. For example, if I need to remember to take out the trash and I very carefully make a mental picture of the trash overflowing, I will be more likely to remember it. This is a deliberate way of coding information. Another way I am likely to remember something is if I am given some kind of stimuli to remember, like seeing other people's trash put out on the tree lawn for pickup will remind me that I also need to take out my trash. Hearing the sound of a large truck that sounds similar to a garbage truck will also remind me.

Some cues make remembering easier as well, by being a specific reminder. If someone asked me if I had done everything I needed to do today, I might remember that I need to take out the trash. However, if someone asked me if I had taken out the trash, I would almost definitely remember that I need to do so.

Finally, I am more likely to remember something if I have repeated it to myself several times. If I keep telling myself or being reminded by other people that I need to take out the trash, I am far more likely to remember it than if I only had one reminder. This is because I need the repetition to move the information from my short-term memory. Short-term memory can only store a limited amount of information for a short period of time.

6] "Information from short-term memory is stored in long-term memory by rehearsal. The repeated exposure to a stimulus or the rehearsal of a piece of information transfers it into long-term memory. Experiments also suggest that learning time is most effective if it is distributed over time." [7]

Footnotes

1] Ward, K. (2004, 15 October) Psychology of memory: remembering. Ken Ward's creative memory course. Retrieved November 11, 2004 at http://www.trans4mind.com/personal_development/creative-memory/psychology.htm