Memory

Goals

1. Describe memory.
   
2. Excel at remembering useful things.

What?

Memory is the ability of animals to store, recall, and use information.

Examples

• A dog remembers he gets a treat at a store.
  This is associative memory—linking a place with a reward.

• A dog remembers commands.
  This is procedural and associative memory—responding to verbal cues with practiced behavior.

• Person A remembers math facts.
  This is declarative memory—facts and information stored in long-term memory.

• Person B remembers the law well enough to be one of the best lawyers around.
  This is declarative memory—deep, well-organized knowledge that supports reasoning and problem solving.

• Person C remembers how to play countless songs on guitar while also remembering the lyrics.
  This involves both procedural memory (for playing) and declarative memory (for lyrics).

• Person D has an excellent golf swing.
  While this is commonly called “muscle memory,” it is actually procedural memory encoded in the brain.
  People often can’t explain their procedural knowledge—it’s called nondeclarative knowledge, but it is knowledge nonetheless.

The Biological Basis of Memory

Memory is the reactivation of a specific group of neurons, formed from persistent changes in the strength of connections between neurons.
— Queensland Brain Institute

In other words, memory is literally the result of physical changes in your brain—rewiring it.

You already have the ability to remember. The key is learning how to make that rewiring happen on purpose.

Rationale

Knowing how memory works equips you to:

1. Maximize your own ability to remember.
2. Help others develop this same ability.

How to Remember Anything

To remember anything well, follow this 3-step process:

1. Encode It Clearly

Get the information into your brain in a meaningful way.

• Make sense of it — Understand it deeply. Connect it to what you already know.
• Chunk it — Group related pieces together to reduce mental load.
• Use images and stories — Turn abstract ideas into vivid mental images or narratives.

2. Revisit It Often

Repetition is key for long-term memory.

• Space it out — Review after 1 day, 3 days, 1 week, etc. (spaced repetition).
• Recall actively — Try to remember without looking (retrieval practice).
• Test yourself — Use quizzes and flashcards to reinforce memory.
• Teach others — Think about how you’d explain it to someone else. Practice writing or teaching, even to imaginary students.

3. Use It in Real Life

Memory strengthens through use.

• Apply it — Solve problems, teach others, or use it in action.
• Reflect on it — Notice when and how it shows up in your life.
• Mix it up — Use it in different ways and contexts (interleaving).

Summary

Memory = Encode clearly + Revisit often + Use meaningfully

If you do these three things, you can remember almost anything.

Describing Memory

Memory can be described using different modifiers that indicate how it works, what it does, or how long it lasts.

1. By Duration

• Short-Term Memory (STM)
  Holds a small amount of information briefly (seconds to minutes).
  Example: Remembering a phone number just long enough to dial it.

• Long-Term Memory (LTM)
  Stores information for long periods (days to a lifetime).
  Example: Remembering your childhood home address.

2. By Conscious Awareness

• Declarative Memory (Explicit)
  You can consciously recall and explain it.
  Includes facts, concepts, and personal events.
  Example: Knowing that Paris is the capital of France.

• Nondeclarative Memory (Implicit)
  Affects your behavior without conscious awareness.
  Often involves habits and skills.
  Example: Typing on a keyboard without thinking about the keys.

3. By Function or Use

• Procedural Memory
  Memory for skills and actions.
  A type of nondeclarative memory.
  Example: Riding a bike, swinging a golf club.

• Associative Memory
  Memory formed by linking things together.
  Example: Smelling cookies and thinking of your grandma’s house.

• Semantic Memory
  Memory of general knowledge and facts.
  A type of declarative memory.
  Example: Knowing what a zebra is.

• Episodic Memory
  Memory of personal experiences and events.
  A type of declarative memory.
  Example: Remembering your first day of school.

• Working Memory
  Temporarily holds and manipulates information during tasks.
  Often considered a part of short-term memory.
  Example: Doing mental math or following directions.

Summary Table

Modifier Type	Memory Term	Description
Duration	STM / LTM	Short vs. long retention
Awareness	Declarative	Conscious, explainable
	Nondeclarative	Unconscious, skill-based
Function	Procedural	Skills and actions
	Associative	Connections between stimuli or events
	Semantic	General knowledge and facts
	Episodic	Personal experiences
	Working	Short-term use and manipulation of info