Types of Memory

You may or may not have noticed, but recently I'm writing quite a bit to do with memory. That's because I'm doing a sort of memory series. After giving a bit of thought, I feel it would be better to write various posts relating to this topic in order for a more informative look into memory.
Some of you may remember an older post of mine called 'what is memory'. It was only a short post, in which I discussed the 3 stages of memory: sensory, short-term, and long-term. Now I'm going be writing about the types of memory.  

There are lots of different types of memories, many of which I haven't mentioned here, but the ones listed here are often the most referred to and are the major ones. I hope you enjoy it and hopefully you'll be able to remember something about it afterwards. :)


Declarative memory


Declarative memory is one of two types of long-term memory. It is the ability to consciously recall facts, knowledge and information. The hippocampus part of the brain seems to be the most specifically used part of the brain during declarative memory. In fact, declarative memory is highly dependant upon the hippocampus.
Furthermore, declarative can be broken down into two sub-categories; episodic memory and semantic memory. 


Episodic memory


Episodic memory is memory that is associated to autobiographical events. Episodic memory allows the mind to recall information that is associated to oneself, eg. times, places, emotions and feelings etc. 

Through these memories and experiences, a process called episodic learning may take place. For example; a fear of an animal through a previous negative event causing you to want to stay away from that particular animal.  


Semantic memory


Semantic memory is the other division of declarative memory, and is the memory of knowledge, understandings and meanings that are not linked to specific experiences, unlike episodic memory. 

Semantic memory can help us to learn from knowledge and information learnt in the past, and give meaningless sentences meaning.
Semantic memory is closely related to episodic memory as it is derived from various episodic memories. You can imagine episodic memory to be a tree that branches off to many different semantic memories, yet linking them all to each other. For example; all episodic memories of how you perceive your family will be in a single representation of the word family semantically. Every interaction you have with your family will slightly or vastly have an effect on the semantic representation of the word family.  


Procedural memory


Procedural memory is all about how to do things. It is the part of our memory that allows us to remember how to perform a certain action, using both cognitive and motor skills. For example: how to ride a bike. As soon as you get onto the bike, your procedural memory takes over and allows you to carry-out the action of riding it. Procedural memory is a type of implicit long-term memory.

The brain gains procedural memories through the action of procedural learning. Procedural learning is where a person repeats something enough times to become familiar with the action and it becomes automatic in your execution of the action.


Long-term and Short-term memory


Long-term memory is the exact opposite of short-term memory, and short-term the exact opposite of long-term. Short-term memory will only last for 10-60 seconds on average, whilst long-term can last for a lifetime. As short-term memory has only a limited storage facility, often the number 7 is cited here, as new short-term memories enter the brain - old memories leave. However, upon rehearsal or a made-connection of a certain short-term memory, strengthens it in the mind and it starts to become more committed to long-term memory. 


Implicit memory


Implicit memory is the ability to use previous experiences to help deal with present circumstances, whilst not knowing that you are recalling upon these previous experiences to help you. People use implicit memory everyday without knowing, as a form of procedural memory. For example; making a cup of tea. You know how to make a cup of tea, yet you're not having to try and recall upon past experiences to help you as you know how to do it, this is just one example of implicit memory.


Visual memory


Visual memory is the action of recalling information, pictures, scenery, places, people and the like, that have been viewed through the eye. Visual memory sometimes allows us to recall particular characteristics of our senses pertaining to these experiences.
It is sometimes referred to as the minds eye in which we can navigate through the mind retrieving mental images.


Topographic memory


Topographical memory is the ability to define the position of oneself in reference to a compass or your surroundings, to recognise and follow a detailed journey plan, and recognising places and scenes. An example of topographical memory failing would be taking a walk in the countryside, and not being able to remember the route you took to get to your position.


Flashbulb memory


Flashbulb memories are memories of high emotional qualities, a clear episodic memory. For example: remembering where you were and what you were doing when you heard of the death of a family member. 


Retrospective memory


Retrospective memory is the ability to draw upon past experiences relating to people, words, places, and events, encompassing non-declarative, episodic, and semantic memories.


Prospective memory


Prospective memory relates to pre-ordained actions or intentions that are to be carried out at the appropriate time. An example of prospective memory would be if you are asked to remind someone about something at a future date.
It is the opposite of retrospective memory that focuses on memories that have already occurred in the past.


Prospective memory is split into two circumstances: time-based and event-based. Time based is where an individual remembers to carry-out an intention at a particular time, say for example; call someone at 10:00.

Event-based prospective memory is remembering to do something when the right conditions/circumstances are present. For example; noticing a birthday card in a shop might remind you of a relatives upcoming birthday, and may remind you to get something for them.


Sensory memory


Sensory memory allows the mind to retain the impressions of the five main senses: touch, sight, scent, sound, and taste, after interaction with these senses have ceased. For example, I'm able to remember what a beefburger smells like, I'm able to remember what it feels like, looks like, and even tastes like. This is all because of my sensory receptors that take in this information, processes it and then stores it. 


There are different types of sensory memory, in my post; 'what is memory' I described a different type of sensory memory. A very short-term type of memory, where an individual is able to remember what an item looks-like after only a brief second of viewing it, the memory will decay and fade after a short period of time.


Working memory


Working memory relates to comprehension and reasoning, making it available for further comprehension and reasoning. Working memory can be used to face tasks that are target-oriented, and require the manipulation of information or behaviours in the face of distractions and/or obstacles.