What Are The Three Stages Of Memory?
We often think of memories as finite and unchanging, but many of us find that our memories begin to fade as we age. The truth is, though, that our memory can begin to change or weaken at any age, and we often forget things more easily than we remember them. Memory formation and storage can play an important role in determining to what extent, if at all, we can recall information. Each stage of memory creation and maintenance can be susceptible to interference or mistakes, which means that our memories may only be as trustworthy as our minds themselves. Let’s take a closer look at what’s going on beneath the surface.
Stage 1: Encoding
Encoding refers to the phase during which the brain is making a new memory. During encoding, our brain translates what we're experiencing into information and stores it in neural pathways between brain cells so that it can be recalled later. The three types of information that we perceive are visual, acoustic, and tactile; without all three, the memory is often considered to be incomplete. The hippocampus and frontal cortex analyze this sensory input and decide whether to encode it as short- or long-term memory. If the experience includes a strong emotion, such as fear or high stress, the memory is more likely to be stored as long-term.
Stage 2: Storage
Memory storage involves the brain retaining the encoded information as sensory, short-term, or long-term memory. It was once thought that memory storage was limited to only one portion of the brain, but one of the major discoveries from recent years was that there can be several “copies” of memories stored all over the brain. Memory processing for storage continuously forms and reforms neural pathways within and between these regions. This discovery may explain why brain damage that is localized does not always wipe out memories from the same timeframe.
Whether a memory is encoded as short- or long-term does seem to affect how it is stored, however. In 1956, researcher George Miller conducted a landmark study that suggested that people could only store five to nine items in their short-term memory. His finding was known as Miller's Law and has remained the standard even with subsequent research. Long-term memory, on the other hand, seems to have a more unlimited capacity.
Stage 3: Retrieval
When we remember a past event, sensation, or fact, we are retrieving a memory that the brain encoded and stored. One of the most common reasons our memory “fails” us is not because the stored memory has been lost, but because we are unable to recall or retrieve it. Struggling to try to remember something is especially noticeable when dealing with short-term versus long-term memory. Short-term memories tend to be sequential, which is why they are often the quickest to be retrieved. They are also “refreshed” and replaced quite frequently, which means we generally forget information that doesn’t get marked as important.
Long-term memory tends to be stronger due to its connection to several parts of the brain, including sensory information and other memories. Still, because long-term memories may be subject to change or deterioration over time, they can become unreliable the less we think about them. If memories are simply neural pathways created by our brain, failing to retrieve a memory over time may muddy this path or lead it to disappear entirely.
Failure to recall is often the first sign that something may not be right with our memory. It can be normal to forget things from time to time, but if you find that you’re forgetting things more frequently or experiencing consequences in life as a result of memory problems, it may be time to speak with a professional.
When to seek help
Speaking with a medical professional can be a great way to get started, as can consulting a mental health professional like a therapist. Online therapy has been shown to be an effective treatment modality for many mental health concerns, including conditions such as depression and PTSD that impact memory. One study found that patients receiving online therapy for depression cited the ease and lack of commute to sessions as the main reason why they continued in therapy.
Online therapy options may help you save time and money by allowing you to receive care from the comfort of your own home. With an online platform like BetterHelp, you can message your therapist in between sessions via a safe in-app chat and refer back to your therapist’s responses anytime.
Takeaway
What are the three stages of memory, and in what order do they occur?
The three stages of working memory include encoding, storage, and retrieval, in that order. In the encoding phase, a short-term memory occurs. The human brain takes down the information gained from a situation and classifies it as necessary long-term information or puts it into temporary storage. The memory is then retrieved, whether in the short-term or long-term, depending on the type of memory.
The memory retrieval process can be conscious or unconscious. With sensory memory, you may recall the memory without attempting to when you come into contact with a sensory reminder of that sensory memory. For example, you may suddenly remember a class field trip from childhood when smelling a perfume your teacher used to wear.
What are the three types of memory?
According to studies, the three primary types of memory are sensory memory, short-term memory, and long-term memory. However, there are many other types of memory within these categories, such as explicit memory, iconic memory, working memory, implicit memory, echoic memory, and verbal memory.
Sensory memory may not be as well-known as short and long-term memory. Sensory memory is gathered by the sensory receptors in the body, including the nerves, eyes, nose, tastebuds, and other sensory glands. These receptors process information physically and report it to the part of the brain that stores implicit and explicit memories.
This sensory memory is stored alongside other types of memory to make the memory more vivid and support the memory encoding process. Without sensory memory, it would be impossible to connect smell, taste, sight, sound, and touch to memories from your past, which could remove some crucial details from your memory.
Why are the three stages of memory important?
The stages of memory are important because they allow individuals to remember essential information, such as their names, where they live, and who they love. It can also be crucial because it allows the learning process to take place, which gives individuals the skills to practice specific specialty jobs, process information, and store information for the future.
Do the three stages of memory need to take place in order?
The three stages of memory do not have to take place in the same order every time for the human memory to function. For example, if you’re asked to remember a list of numbers and a magical number, you might call on your existing memory storage to remember the numbers before using encoding to memorize the list as a whole. The human brain is flexible, and memory is often an ongoing process involving multiple systems, such as the sensory register (in sensory memory) and processing information through prior experiences and memories.
What is the three-stage model of psychology?
The three-stage model of cognitive psychology refers to a process in therapy. The three stages are exploration, insight, and action. A therapist might use these stages to support a client in meeting their goals in a challenging situation.
What are the stages of memory?
The stages of human memory are encoding, storage, and retrieval. Memory might be stored differently depending on the type of memory being stored. For example, echoic memory is primarily sound-based and may be more short-term. Sensory memory can take several forms, including verbal, visual, and tactile. Depending on your short-term memory capacity, you might skip some steps, such as retrieval. The human memory is complex, and each stage may involve sub-stages, as well.
What are the three long-term memory systems?
The three long-term memory systems include procedural memory, semantic memory, and episodic memory. Unlike sensory memory and iconic memory, which are short-term memories, these types of human memory can last years.
Procedural memory refers to any memories of skills like motor skills or those that have been practiced significantly in the long term. Semantic memory stores information about the world and environment, such as where you live and how to get around your city. Finally, episodic memory refers to conscious recollection of stories and experiences from your past, such as a memory of your first date.
What is sensory memory, and how does it work?
Sensory memory is the memory of sensory experiences, such as touch, sight, sound, smell, and taste. When you first encode a sensory memory, your body stores information about the stimuli you’ve been exposed to. Usually, sensory memory accompanies another significant memory. For example, you might use sensory memory when you attempt to remember your last hike with your dog. You might remember the smell of the trees, the feeling of their fur, or the sun's brightness. Sensory memory can help you connect with all aspects of the memory, not just the narration of what occurred in your mind.
Sensory memory lasts only milliseconds and is primarily unconscious. Your body encodes these details, allowing you to recall them again subconsciously throughout your life. For example, you might notice sensory memory working for you when you are reminded of your grandma when you smell the type of pastries she used to bake. Without this sensory memory reminder, you might not have recalled this sensory memory in the same way.
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