Memory Consolidation: Definition And Examples In Psychology

In memory consolidation psychology, memory and memory consolidation rely on a healthy body and brain. Many areas may affect your mind's ability to retain information, including age, substance use, medications, diseases, and mental health. Learning about these areas can be beneficial when trying to improve your memory consolidation ability.

What is memory consolidation? 

To understand the concept of memory consolidation, it may be helpful to think of memory as a muscle. Exercising your memory with repetition may help you retain memories over time and feel confident in recalling information. For example, perhaps you spent hours and hours in school studying and using the Pythagorean theorem. Doing so may have allowed you to exercise your brain to store the formula in your long-term memory. This process is called memory consolidation. 

On the opposite end, placing your keys on the kitchen table when you get home and forgetting about them can be an example of a lack of memory consolidation. In this case, placing the keys down is an automatic gesture, so you may forget that you've done it. However, if you always place your keys on the same hook, your memory consolidation may allow you to know where they are when you leave the next day.

What are memories?

Memory is defined as the process of receiving information, storing details, and recalling that information later, all within the mind. Memory involves many portions of the brain, but the hippocampus, found within the brain's temporal lobes, is primarily responsible for emotions and memory. 

This pattern of reactivation is a memory. Rather than memory being an organized system with separate compartments in the brain, it is an ever-changing system of neural patterns and pathways in which information travels across many brain regions.

In memory consolidation, recalling the same piece of information repeatedly trains the neurons to act together efficiently and rapidly. As this repetition continues, the neurons learn to fire together in the original pattern; thus, the information is more readily available in memory.

Causes of memory challenges

Before understanding memory consolidation, it may benefit you to understand the causes of memory challenges and memory loss that may cause difficulty with cognitive ability. 

Age-related memory loss

As humans age, it can be natural for memory function to diminish gradually. Knowing that memories are constantly changing neural patterns, it can be easy to understand why no memories are permanent, including long-term and stored memories. Memory consolidation psychology shows many possible reasons that memory can decrease as people age. However, the two most common causes include reduced blood flow to the brain and deterioration of the hippocampus.

Other cases of memory decline can occur on a much more rapid and severe scale from certain diseases such as Alzheimer's. Alzheimer's disease is a form of dementia that progresses and irreversibly reduces an individual's mental functioning, including memory. Alzheimer's disease often leads to needing full-time care in the later stages of the progression. Dementia is a general term describing symptoms that significantly alter mental functioning.

Mental illness

Memory can be a vital part of personality and daily functioning. A few mental illnesses that impact cognitive ability may also impact memory, including depression and anxiety. Those experiencing depression often report feeling as if their mind is foggy or clouded. When the brain is preoccupied with rumination and feelings of worry and anxiety, it can impair one's ability to form memories and learn new information. 

Schizophrenia is another mental illness commonly associated with decreased memory function. One meta-analysis documented significant memory impairment in schizophrenia. According to the study, "the impairment was stable, wide-ranging, and not substantially affected by potential moderating factors such as the severity of psychopathology and duration of illness."

Substance use 

Substance use may also cause significant interferences with memory consolidation and recall. Alcohol is one substance known for its potential memory interference, as it can lead to partial memory loss or complete blackouts if consumed in significant amounts. 

Research is still being conducted on the ways that alcohol interferes with memory, but it is believed to be, in part, due to the disruptions that alcohol creates in the hippocampus. It is also shown that alcohol use interferes with neurons and their ability to respond to signals from other cells consistently. Benzodiazepines, often prescribed for acute anxiety, also have similar impacts on memory consolidation. This effect is often amplified in those who misuse benzodiazepines.

How to improve memory consolidation 

According to memory consolidation psychology, the brain thrives on stimulation. Therefore, it is often said that learning new skills effectively cultivates brain health. For example, learning to play a musical instrument or speak a new language can exercise your brain and activate multiple areas.  

Physical exercise is another proven way to boost mental functioning. The University of British Columbia conducted a study showing that regular aerobic exercise seemingly increased hippocampus size in older women with possible cognitive impairment. In addition, chronic inflammation can be linked to memory loss and cognitive decline later in life, and regular physical activity is linked to reducing inflammation in the body. 

The quality of sleep you get is also associated with brain functioning and memory. Getting enough sleep can allow you to better process, consolidate, and store new information as memories in the brain. Memory loss or difficulty remembering information is also often associated with sleep deprivation, sleep apnea, and other sleep-related disorders such as narcolepsy. 

Counseling options 

Experiencing difficulties with processing and retaining memory can be unsettling and, in some cases, frightening. If you are struggling with memory loss or other concerns about cognitive function, speak to a doctor immediately. A neurologist can help you isolate the potential causes of your symptoms and begin treatment if necessary.

If you discover that your memory issues could be related to a mental health condition like depression or anxiety, contacting a therapist may also be beneficial. A psychologist can use methods like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) to isolate the root cause of your challenges and provide you with tools to cultivate a healthier state of mind and a more significant capacity for memory retention.

The rise of online therapy in treating anxiety, depression, and trauma-related disorders has removed many common barriers to therapy that keep people from getting help. For instance, online therapy is often more convenient, flexible, and affordable than in-person therapy. Studies have backed up these claims, showcasing the cost-effectiveness of internet-based interventions. 

Online platforms like BetterHelp match clients with mental health professionals with experience in various specialized care. You can speak with a counselor via phone, text, video chat, or online messaging to get started as you move toward better mental health.