Memory

Memory is a fundamental cognitive function consisting in the ability to store, retain, and subsequently recall information and experiences. The three functions and phases of memory therefore consist of: encoding, storage/maintenance, and retrieval.

Different types of memory are recognized:

• Sensory memory, which allows the short-term retention (a few seconds) of information captured by the five senses (auditory, visual, tactile, olfactory, and gustatory memory)
• Short-term memory, also known as working memory, which is a limited-capacity store able to ensure the possibility of retaining and manipulating information, from a few seconds up to a minute, enabling calculation, language comprehension, and decision-making processes
• Long-term memory, which provides a lasting archive, even for a lifetime, of previously processed and stored information. This is divided into explicit (declarative) and implicit (non-declarative) memory. Explicit memory includes the conscious recall of events, while implicit memory involves skills and conditioned responses not related to conscious recall.

A memory deficit may be related to neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, to brain trauma or injury, to mild cognitive impairment, to frontotemporal dementias, but also to conditions such as anxietyAnxiety is an emotional response characterized by feelings o... More, depressionDepression is a disorder characterized by persistent sadness... More, and vitamin deficiencies.

Emotions and memory in learning

Memory is influenced not only by the passage of time, but also by attention, repetition, and the emotional significance of information. Memory, in fact, is deeply influenced by emotion, which modulates attentional selectivity, motivationMotivation: a scientific perspective Motivation is a fundame... More, action, and behavior. Our attention naturally focuses on information considered relevant: emotion supports both the encoding and the retrieval of information, with important implications for learningIl termine apprendimento - con i sinonimi imparare, assimila... More, which is optimized by an educational environment capable of providing emotional stimulation.

How to enhance it

Memory can be enhanced through regular physical activity, preferably outdoors, and through a healthy and balanced diet, low in alcohol, fats, and added sugars and rich in fruit, such as apples and citrus fruits. Sleep also plays a role in memory consolidation, which can be further supported by meditationThere are many ways to define meditation, but perhaps the si... More practice.