It’s fun to make memories as a family!
One December a few years ago, my wife, daughter, and I made some tremendous memories as we enjoyed a few snowy days at my parent’s home in rural Oklahoma. After the fun was over, we all struggled to remember everything we were doing and learning before our time away.
How Memories are Made
Memories are made through a fascinating network of memory systems in our brains. Here’s an overly simplified explanation of how memories are made:
As soon as we hear or see something, it goes into short-term memory and stays there for about 20 seconds or less.
Next, the memory of what we saw or heard flows into working memory so we can hold it in our mind, think about it, add it to other things we already know, talk with others about it, or solve problems using it. If the information is important enough, it eventually gets stored in long-term memory.
If all goes well, the memory is stored in long-term memory so we can remember it for varying amounts of time. We may forget details within a few days unless we do something to create long-term memories that could last our lifetime.
There are two major long-term memory storage systems. One stores our personal experiences automatically. Another system stores factual knowledge we have learned or memorized through an intentional effort on our part.
When we recall something, we retrieve it from long-term storage through working memory. For example, when we read an article, when we try to solve a math problem in our head, or when we try to get our thoughts onto paper, we are using working memory.
Do You or Your Student Struggle with Remembering?
Sometimes our memory just doesn’t work as well as it should. Problems may occur at any stage in the memory process. For more about this, read my articles.
When Memory Doesn’t Work: Why We Forget to Remember
What is Working Memory and How Can I Get More of It?
Need More Help Applying this Concept?
Contact us to make an appointment to learn more about how our research-based Memory Training Program can help improve any aspect of this process for you or your student.
(c) 2014-2020, Monte W. Davenport, Ph.D.
