Brain:Memory Encoding and Decoding, Complexity Explored.

Encoding is a process of taking new information and storing it into memory. Information is encoded into the memory through either automatic processing(mindless) or effortful processing(mindful). When information is more complicated, and therefore more difficult to encode, we can improve our chance of remembering the information through maintenance rehearsal and elaborative rehearsal. Maintenance rehearsal involves the simple repetition of items that need to be remembered. Elaborative rehearsal, which is used for more complex information, involves forming associations, creating mnemonic devices, ie relating to an event of emotional or scientific significance, and utilizing other cognitive techniques. Two types of encoding techniques are semantic encoding and imagery encoding. Semantic encoding involves encoding the meaning of information(word, phrase, etc.), while imagery encoding involves forming visual associations of the information.

Memory storage, memory is stored using three distinct memory systems:sensory memory, short term memory and long term memory. Sensory memory retains incoming sensory information for a very short period of time. This includes visual stimulation known as icon, as well as auditory stimulation, referred to as echo. Short term memory stores short bursts, 20-30 seconds of information and can only contain 7+ or -2 bits of information. Long term memory has a near unlimited storage capacity ad can hold information for long periods of time. Long term memory can be divided into three parts: procedural memory, declarative memory, and flashbulb memory. Procedural memory is a memory of action(i.e bike riding). Declarative memory is a memory of facts and can either be episodic(events or experiences) or semantic(general knowledge). Flashbulb memory is a memory of significant, dramatic or emotional events.

Memory retrieval, is the process of recalling information from memory. The success of retrieving information largely depends on the way which the information was stored upon being encoded and the use of retrieval cues, or stimulus that helps us recall information in long term memory.

Tip of the tongue syndrome, sometimes when u try to recall a word or associated memory, u feel that it is in the tip of your tongue, but unable to correctly retrieve the word as it is. This happens because memory is stored using three associations, i.e auditory sense,  imagery sense and the emotional or scientific significance of the particular word or event, when any of these three associations is lost or forgotten, the brain is unable to decode the information correctly, hence making u feel that the word/information is in the tip of your tongue..!

Information courtesy: My brain, Neuropsychology Journal, 2009.