Category: Cognitive Components

Memory: The types and what happens when it breaks down?

Difficulty remembering appointments or details of conversations is episodic; forgetting how to use a knife and fork is procedural; and that tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon is likely a case of semantic breakdown. By honing in on the specifics, we take away some of the frustration and mystery of forgetting. Understanding memory gives us a chance at identifying points of failure in everyday life and narrows down what strategies will be effective, thus making our treatment both efficient and effective. At the very least, we can say a little more about what is happening to us.

How Memory Works (and Why Sometimes It Doesn’t)

Cognition, Cognitive Components

4 minute read Memory. That golden thing we could curse or kiss; a superpower to store secrets and codes (like a PIN that we never write down); and, at times, the reason we can’t find our keys. From encoding to retrieval, memory is a marvel until it breaks down. When we forget, it’s like clutching at water with our bare hands. A word on the tip of the tongue, a face that’s suddenly lost its name; it’s a wonder we ever get it right. While we don’t know everything about ‘how we get it right’, we do know...