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Although it is hard to conceive the actual machine working behind memory scientist have been able to figure out the physiology behind this process. The brain is composed of millions of neurons. Communication between these neurons is by using nerve impulses from the axon of one neuron to the dendrites of another. This is called a synapse. All impulses are transmitted by a chemical substance, which is called a neurotransmitter. Scientists have not been able to explain the actual processes that occur within memory. They cannot explain why people can remember something’s and not other or why some learning strategies are better then others. It turns into more of a guessing game using analogies to explain what happens. Memory has been compared to the way “ we rummage our house for a lost object.” That is the way the brain works in terms of memory. The confusing part is how one can store it retrieving it and even use it to decipher harder more complex problems. In one early theory memory is broken down into two areas. These areas are primary memory and secondary memory. Primary memory is said to not have to be retrieved. It was never lost and it is what is seen in present time. Secondary memory is a place where everything can be stored, but the difference is secondary memory has to be retrieved and cannot be used like primary memory. These two different types of memory are now known as short-term memory and long-term memory. What happens how ever when a person’s memory does not work or when he or she has disorder, which does not allow them to be able to perform simple task that everyone takes for granted? Such diseases are called agnosia and dissociative disorder. In order to understand these problems one must understand the different parts of memory and what is affected. There is much evidence of the existence of short and long-term memory. Most disorders of the mind stem from the inability of the mind to transfer signals from short to long-term memory. Memory is conceived as a transfer of information between short-term and long-term memory. What factor must be present in order for a person memory to work incorrectly? An average person forgets things on a regular basis and that can be attributed to the breakdown in information transfer in the brain. Scientist explains that the best way to remember things is by rehearsal. Through this technique people can remember information presented with a higher rate accuracy. However this leaves little or no evidence to the reason of why people forget things. This is attributed to a break down in the transfer of memory. Short-term memory is broken down into three main parts. These parts are also broken down into a few sub categories. The three main parts in short-term memory are visual STM, auditory STM, and working memory. A reason for the acceptance that there are many different types of memory such as short and long-term memory is because they’re too much information to be processed at one time and it has to be filtered through different processes. This is where short-term memory fits in. The memory system does a few different things. First it takes an experience and decides whether it is worth remembering, then it translates into a representation it can understand and then it sends to memory to save it for a long or short amount of time and retrieves it when it is called upon. Short-term memory is the ability of the brain to remember things for a short amount of time and decide whether it is worth remembering. The short-term memory is divided into the groups mentioned above. Working memory is the aim to establish how memory is organized. Working memory is memory that includes all other types of short-term memory. Working memory allows a person to transfer memory between short and long-term memory and process it while it is being used. Studies have been done to help people understand what working memory is. Short lists of numbers or letters were used in test subjects to see how much could be retained. In most case the amount that was retained was good, because the transfer of information was there. Working memory has several components that make it work. It has a central executive, which processes limited amounts of incoming information. This controls the system whole short-term memory process. In working memory there are several imputes for storing visual and auditory stimuli. Short-term memory is why people have a hard time remembering a sequence of letters or numbers. In the work of George Miller he made a theory that says people can hold up to seven digits plus or minus two in short term memory. Soon after the digits are heard and served their purpose they are forgotten. This is why people don't remember phone numbers that are given to them. After there purpose has been served it is forgotten. The existence of working memory is proven because in certain cases in people with brain damage can remember only certain things. In some cases people able to remember things from there past before the damage, but could not remember a sentence that was just said to the. This also happens in the reverse. People can remember things that are just said to them but cannot remember past events. These cases suggest the difference between long and short-term memory and also the existence of working memory. This is a disorder know as dissociates disorder. Many people suffer from it and the numbers are increasing ever year. Again this is form the break down in transferring information. In every individual there contains numerous amounts of information and for this information to be effective I must be organized. This is long-term memory. Many people have argued the long-term memory is broken down into episodic or semantic memory. Episodic is other wise known as “autobiographical” memory. This is the memory that allows us to recall what we have done in our lives. It helps remember what was done yesterday. Episodic memory involves the recollection of a feeling of re-experiencing the event. This would involve some sort o f imaging in the brain. If a person was to ask to describe what there house looks like a picture would appear in the brain. This is episodic memory. Semantic memory is the store of general knowledge. This includes language and rules. Semantic memory can be used without reference to specific events. When someone speaks they don’t know where they originally learned language it is a natural process. When a breakdown in memory occurs that is where such disorders as agnostic disorder and dissociates disorder fit in. Brain damage can often cause defects in the brain. Agnostics have an inability to see objects and match them up with the objects name. A person may see a set of keys and have no idea what they are. Once touched however the subject knows what they are. The have not lost there long-term memory, but the ability to see an object and decide what it is. If you asked to describe a set of keys they could do it perfectly, but not be able to identify them. Another more serious disorder is Dissociative disorder, other wise known as multiple personality disorder. Multiple personality disorder is where a person has two or more personality’s controlling his mind. Only one personality can be present at once. Usually this disorder is a result of a traumatic childhood or experience. The person brain uses these personality’s to block out what a persons consciousness does not want them to know. One very interesting case was a case involving a man who was on trail for committing murder. The man had no recollection of ever committing this murder. When hypnotized the doctor found that this man had an alter personality that admitted to committing the murder. When the man awoke he had no recollection of the conversation that the doctor had had with his alter personality. An amnesic barrier often separates these alter egos. So one personality may not know of the existence of the other. Most of these case have very good have a very good memory, but are unaware of past events. This suggests a breakdown in episodic memory. Dissociative disorder consists of two areas. First the loss of personal identity and second organic disorders that produce retrograde amnesia. Most cases have been reported as a symptom of traumatic experiences in a person’s life. Dissociative disorder is an act of “repression.” This idea states that memory is a dynamic in which memories damaging to the ego can be repressed. How does this relate to memory? Episodic memories only have meaning because they relate to a person. There is a control element to the way episodic memories are organized. Dissociative disorder creates a barrier between episodic memory and personal identity. Episodic memories can no longer be utilized because they have no frame of reference. Since scientists do not know how memory is organized it cannot come up with a scientific solution but only theories about such diseases. Memory is a very complex system. It is broken down into many different parts. When these parts cease to work it creates such disorders that are discussed above. Many people suffer from these diseases and there is no way of knowing how to cure them as of yet. Cognitive scientists have been working to find cures and to identify where and what memory is. It is still an enigma, but someday they may be able to figure out how the mind wo Bibliography: Word Count: 1663
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