Amnesia As A Key To Developing Evidential Theories About Memory

The term memory is used to describe the information we learn and store in our brains. Attkinson & Shiffron (1968), presented the basic structure for the memory. The memory was divided into three main stores: the short-term, long-term and sensory stores. Information is transmitted linearly. Melton (1963), established three processes that enable the brain to retain a memory. The first process, called encoding involves gathering, collecting and processing information in a variety of ways. These include visual, auditory and semantic. The semantic form is a way of applying and associating a memory meaning. The second process is the storage of the information in the short-term memories. This time period varies depending on the individual. The brain transfers the memory into long-term storage if it is repeated.

Finally, retrieval occurs. Information that has been stored in long-term memory can be retrieved at any time. Amnesia refers to the condition of not being able to retrieve memories. This is more than just forgetfulness. It shows that the process of memory retention has failed at a specific point. Amnesia has many causes. It can be due to neurological problems like physical injury or psychogenic issues such as post-traumatic stresses, mental disorders, or alcohol abuse. In this essay, we will explore the relationship between memory loss and amnesia. The latter is what caused the former. Short-term and Long-term Memory are two of the most important storage systems for memory. The short-term system is limited in its capacity and stores data for a longer period. Long-term memories, on the other hand, store information over a much longer period and have a potential capacity of unlimited size. Long-term memory capacity is incalculable, since the brain can store a wide range of information, including language, grammar and etiquette. It also stores social norms, educational experiences, personal memories, etc. The immensity of this memory is more apparent when we consider the extremes – people with photographic memories. All the information that they collect throughout their lives is stored in their long-term memory.

On the other end of the spectrum are those who suffer from amnesia, and they often have no memory or cannot collect it. These studies on patients with amnesia and other conditions have given us a deeper understanding of how memory works. Psychologists have used these findings to create different categories of amnesia. The first amnesia type is retrograde amnesia. This is when you are unable to recall past memories. The type allows us identify and pinpoint exactly where the brain fails. This is thought to be a result of the retrieval process, which is the final step in memory retention. Because of trauma, brains are unable to recall these memories. Some suffer from only a recent loss of memory, lasting a couple weeks or months. Other people are left without any memory at all. It’s interesting to see that memories are not always lost, but hidden. Re-immersing the patient in familiar environments can help trigger memory retrieval.

The term memory is used to describe the information we learn and store in our brains. Attkinson & Shiffron (1968), presented the basic structure for the memory. The memory was divided into three main stores: the short-term, long-term and sensory stores. Information is transmitted linearly. Melton (1963), has established three distinct processes for the brain’s memory retention. The first process, called encoding involves gathering, collecting and processing information in a variety of ways. These include visual, auditory and semantically. The semantics form is the process of applying and associating a particular memory with its meaning. The second process is the storage of the information in the short-term memories. This time period varies depending on the individual. The brain transfers the memory into long-term storage if it is repeated.

Last but not least, retrieval occurs when the information in the long term memory can be retrieved at any time. Amnesia refers to the condition of not being able to recall past memories. This is more than just forgetfulness. It shows that the process of memory retention has failed at a specific point. Amnesia is caused by a variety of factors, such as neurological conditions like physical injuries, psychogenic conditions, post-traumatic stress or mental disorders, and even alcohol abuse, known as Korsakoff syndrome. In this essay, we will explore the relationship between memory loss and amnesia. The latter is what caused the former. Short-term and Long-term Memory are two of the most important storage systems for memory. The short-term system is limited in its capacity and stores data for a longer period. Long-term memories, on the other hand, store information over a much longer period and have a potential capacity of unlimited size. Long-term memory capacity is incalculable, since the brain can store a wide variety of information, including language, grammar and etiquette. It also stores social norms, educational experiences, personal memories, etc. It is easier to understand the vastness of long-term memory when we consider the extremes. For example, people with photographic memory, the information they have gathered throughout their life will be stored in the long-term. Amnesia patients are at the opposite end of the spectrum and often have no memory or cannot collect it. Amnesia patients’ studies have helped us gain a deeper understanding of how memory functions. These psychologists findings have helped us classify different types of amnesia. The first amnesia type is retrograde amnesia. This is when you are unable to recall past events. The type of the amnesia helps us identify and pinpoint the brain failure. This is thought to be a result of the retrieval process, which is the final step in memory retention. The trauma has caused the brain not to be able to access these memories when requested.

Some patients only lose recent memories, but others have no memory at all. The fact that the memories are not always lost, but hidden is fascinating. Re-immersing the patient in familiar surroundings can help trigger their retrieval. Anterograde Amnesia describes the inability for a person to remember new information that has been acquired after amnesia. This amnesia type occurs when the brain’s ability to retain information is broken. It starts at the second step.

Patients are still able gather information. However, it is stored for much less time. Sometimes, only a couple of seconds. Amnesia is a condition that is both the worse and the most fascinating. It is not curable, so it is the most dangerous. The two main distinctions of long-term memory are a declarative/explicit memory and non-declarative/implicit memory. The latter stores information which requires conscious recall. The memory can also be divided into episodic and semantic memories.

The episodic memory is a collection of memories that includes the time, place and details of events. The semantic memory stores knowledge, which we acquired through our education. For example, facts about the world or history. Spiers and his colleagues (2001) observed that these two distinct sub-divisions were different. He looked at 147 amnesic patients who had damage in the hippocampus and found that episodic memory was impaired in every case. Semantic memory, however, did not show any significant impairment. It is not yet known why this happens. In contrast, non-declarative learning is stored in a memory that can be retrieved by the individual unconsciously. This allows them to repeat actions. This can be divided into two types: procedural and priming memory. The term procedural memory is used to describe motor skills like riding a bike or tying shoelaces. These actions are usually performed without conscious effort or thought. Priming is the process by which the exposure to a stimulus in the past affects how a subsequent stimulus is processed.

A person who has been exposed to an auditory stimuli of a canine will be able to identify a subsequent auditory stimulus containing a canine more easily, because of their relationship. The first audio stimulus is called the prime. It helps in processing the audio when it’s presented a second. Henry Gustav Molaison (H.M) (1926-2008) was an amnesiac patient who inspired many studies that have influenced the way we understand memory. The patient was suffering from severe epilepsy. This led to his medial lobe, as well as parts of the amygdala and hippocampus being surgically removed. The surgery improved his epilepsy, but the result was anterograde memory loss, which affected his ability to form new memories.

Alan Baddeley, in 1974, called his short-term and procedural memory “working memory”. It was still intact. Brenda Milner ( 1957) observed that he had a normal digit span. This was evident when she assessed his ability repeating the numbers spoken. Although he could do this perfectly, his brain was damaged and he only retained these numbers for a short time. Milner tested H.M.’s motor abilities by giving him a mirror-tracing exercise, in which he had to draw out the images before him simply by looking into the mirror. As he improved his performance, he began to recall this skill unconsciously. He could not, however, remember when he had learned or practiced the task. This indicates that unconsciously-learned skills may leak into long-term memory. H.M. was able give us some of the earliest understandings of anterograde dementia.

Amnesia studies also showed a double association. Here, the short and long term memory are both connected, so that one can be damaged while the other is intact. Amnesia patients usually experience impairments to their long-term memories, but not their short-term ones. This is often caused by damage of the medial-temporal lobe or hippocampus. It is also possible to have both short-term and longer-term damage, though this is rarer. Damage to the temporal and parietal lobes is often responsible for this. Semantic dementia patients also have a problem retrieving semantic memories, whereas episodic memory remains unaffected. Amnesics have an impaired episodic but their semantic memories are intact.

In conclusion, various amnesia studies have given us crucial information which is essential to develop evidential theories of memory. Neurologists and psychologists alike have been in a position to organize and divide the memory into different sections, identify their differences, and understand how they interact to retain data. It also helped us understand how the brain functions in relation with memory. It is still difficult to generalize from the case studies that we have done, since they are all based around unique cases.

Anterograde Amnesia describes the inability after amnesia to remember and learn new information. This form of amnesia occurs when the brain cannot transfer the information to the long-term memories. Patients can collect information, but it’s only retained for short periods of time. Amnesia of this kind is more severe, as there is no cure. However, it allows us to study the capabilities of our brain. The two main distinctions of long-term memory are a declarative/explicit memory and non-declarative/implicit memory. The first is where information is stored that needs to be recalled. The memory can also be divided into episodic and semantic memories.

The episodic memory is a collection of memories that includes the time, place and details of events. Semantic memories are the ones that hold knowledge from our education. For example, facts and historical information. Spiers and his colleagues (2001), through their observations and studies of sub-divisions in the brain, concluded that the two are distinct. He looked at 147 amnesia patients who had hippocampus damage and found that episodic memory was impaired in every case. Semantic memory, however, did not show any significant impairment. It is not yet known why this happens. Non-declarative memories store learned skills which can be retrieved without conscious thought, allowing people to repeat actions. It can be further subdivided in two categories: procedural and priming memory.

In most cases, procedural memory is used to describe motor skills like riding a bike or tying shoelaces. These actions are performed without conscious effort or thought. The priming process is how a prior stimulus can affect the processing of another stimulus. A dog auditory stimulation, for example, can make a subsequent dog auditory stimulation easier to identify. So, the prime audio is the first audio, which helps the processing when the audio is presented again. Henry Gustav Molaison (H.M) (1926-2008), also known by the nickname H.M, was a man with amnesia. He provided the basis for many studies that have been influential in understanding memory. The patient was suffering from severe epilepsy. This led to his medial lobe, as well as parts of the amygdala and hippocampus being surgically removed. After the surgery, the patient’s epilepsy had improved. However, he developed anterograde-amnesia which hindered his ability to make new memories. Alan Baddeley ( 1974) calls this working memory. Brenda Milner discovered in 1957 that his digit span, or ability to remember numbers, was perfectly normal. Milner assessed H.M.’s motor capabilities by asking him to trace images on a wall mirror. As he improved his performance, he began to recall this skill unconsciously. However, each time he performed the task, he didn’t remember having learned it. This suggests that the short-term memory may leak into the long-term, especially for unconsciously acquired skills. H.M. observed that damage to or removal from the hippocampus could result in a loss of long-term recall. This case study showed that long term memory was not permanently stored and was only in the hippocampus. Studies of amnesia have also shown a “double disassociation” where short-term and longer-term memories can both be damaged while the other one remains intact.

Patients with amnesia usually suffer from impairments in long-term and short-term Memory. This is often caused by damage of the medial-temporal lobe or hippocampus. In rare cases, it can happen the other way around. A patient can suffer damage to their short-term and long-term memories. The parietal lobe and the temporal lobe are usually affected.

Semantic degeneration patients are also unable to retrieve their semantic memory. However, their episodic recall is not affected. Amnesic patients are characterized by a lack of episodic memories, while their semantic memories remain intact. In conclusion the amnesia research has given us important information to help us develop a theory of memory. Neurologists as well Neurologists were able to separate and organize systemically the different sections of the memory. They also identified their differences. This has helped to understand the function of the brain and how it relates to memory. The majority of our knowledge comes from case studies. It is hard to generalize these findings to the larger population because they are based primarily upon unique cases.