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The Study of Memory Systems

Abdul Momoh

Central Connecticut State University

PSY 490

Dr. John Protzko

24 September 2024
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Reflection on the Study of Memory Systems

Considering various cognitive systems studied in psychology, the study of memory

holds the leading position and has disclosed some fundamental insights into how the human

mind works. Understanding the concept of memory is more than just the mere recognition of it

as a process of storing and retrieving information; instead, one should know how memory

forms our cognition of reality, our self-concept, and how we interact with the world. In the

following reflection, I discuss why we study memory systems and what, as a study, it has to

say about the human mind.

Why Do We Study Memory Systems?

Studying memory systems allows us to investigate one of the core elements of human

cognition. Memory forms the basis for understanding thought, behavior, and experience

(Atkinson et al., 2021). Without memory, one would not be capable of holding knowledge,

learning from experiences, or even developing an identity. It is the fabric that ties past

experiences to present thoughts and future actions. For this reason, the study of memory is

instructive regarding how the human brain stores and retrieves information and how people

extract a sense of continuity and self-awareness across time.

We study memory because it allows us to understand critical cognitive processes,

including learning, decision-making, and problem-solving. This would enable us, for example,

to appreciate how the several types of memories, like working memory, long-term memory,

and procedural memory, contrast with each other in how the brain processes information in

short-term and transient ways versus the ways the brain may retain information for an extended

period. This study helps psychologists understand how the individual adjusts to the new

situation and how knowledge from the past guides the current behavior.
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Moreover, studying memory is very important because it has wide-ranging implications

for standard and abnormal functioning. Most mental disorders, including Alzheimer's disease

and PTSD, find their origin in memory dysfunction. Knowledge of neurobiological

mechanisms for encoding and retrieving memories allows the design of interventions and

therapies aimed at enhancing or restoring memory. This means that studying memory systems

deals with understanding a fundamental aspect of human cognition and efficient challenges in

cases of cognitive impairments.

Insights Memory Systems Provide About the Human Mind

Memory studies say a lot about the structure and functioning of the human mind. The

first critical insight was the realization that memory does not refer to a single, monolithic

process but rather to a host of differentiated systems working together in support of cognition.

The differences between explicit and implicit memory, for example, illustrate how some forms

of memory, those for facts or events, are consciously accessible (explicit), while others, such

as motor skills or habits, operate unconsciously (implicit). This differentiation points to the

complexity of the human mind and suggests that conscious awareness is only one layer of

cognitive functioning.

The second important finding is that memory is remarkably reconstructed (Brewin et

al., 2020). Unlike using a camera, where desired activities are recorded and stored as they

occurred in their natural form and contents, memory is a constructive process that depends on

feelings, anticipations, and circumstances. This destination provides evidence for the idea of

memory not as a clear copy of reality but as a changeable one. This also means that human

perception of reality can be distorted, which gives us positive and negative outcomes resulting

from the plasticity of memory. On the one hand, since memory is constructive, people are
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ready to adjust their concepts since new experiences can be explained more easily with the

help of prior knowledge. On the other hand, it also makes memory vulnerable to distortion,

resulting in false memories or biased decisions.

Besides, the memory study shows that emotions always impact how memories are

encoded and retrieved. Emotionally charged memories are more enhanced and easily

referenced than neutral ones, making a clear correlation between memory and emotion. This

duality is particularly well illustrated in the traumatic memories, in which a strong effect

renders memory either more susceptible (as in PTSD) or less so (as in dissociation). Thus, the

research into memory systems provides not just a cognitive process but also deep interactions

between cognition and emotion of the human mind.

Conclusion

The study of memory systems holds significance for showing fundamentally essential

features of human cognition and the human mind. Memory enables us to learn, adapt, and

evolve through experiences, influencing perceptions, decisions, and identities. This insight

from the study of memory, such as realizing the reconstructive nature of memory, the

interrelationship between memory and emotion, and memory serving as the basis for personal

identity, follows that it is complex and essential to our overall cognitive functioning. By

studying the various systems of memory, the psychologist can deal with mental impairments

and thus extend their knowledge of the more significant human experience. Memory is not of

the past but the key to understanding the human mind.

References

Atkinson, A. L., Allen, R. J., & Waterman, A. H. (2021). A large-sample questionnaire study

explores the understanding and experience of working memory in teaching

professionals. Teaching and Teacher Education, 103, 103343–103343.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2021.103343

Brewin, C. R., Andrews, B., & Mickes, L. (2020). Regaining consensus on the reliability of

memory. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 29(2), 121–125.

https://doi.org/10.1177/0963721419898122