Memory is the result in storing a number of impressions of past events in our minds, of which we are able to identify with the knowledge of a functioning brain that helps to recognise these impressions when they present themselves again. There are four things that must happen in order that memory may be formed.
(1) The mind must register the impression
(2) The impression must be retained in the mind
(3) The impression must be reproduced by becoming aware of it
(4) We must recognise that we have experienced that particular event/impression before
Most elderly people have a memory for things that happen long time ago, but anything that occured recently might be forgotten, this is not because of a faulty memory but their brains are unable to recieve any more mental impressions and so nothing else can be retained.
We as individuals vary very much in our power of memory, some of us are able to recall better what we read from what we hear, that is because the mental impression we get from what we see (vision) is much stronger and more readily retained from what we hear.
This is what is known as ''visual memorizers.'' Most of us are of this type, of which we have the power of a strong photographic memory that has been recognised easily by the brain, thus enabling some of us with the capability of reciting a large number of curious facts and information on any subject.
Most of us find that we remember things easier by ''association'' that's because we form links in our minds between new impressions and those which we have experienced before. One thing reminds us of another which creates a chain of thought that lays down new impressions that are stored and reproduced when it is required.
Memory can fail not only in the elderly, but in many disorders of the mind which can result in failure to recall any impression that has been previously recorded. Some of which is known as general paralysis of the insane, senile dementia, or confusional insanity.
Loss of memory can also occur when people get addicted to alcohol. In alcoholism the loss of memory become peculiar and recent events are not remembered, but things happened long ago can be remembered easily.
Real memory is inborn it may vary if the person is tired, exhausted or physically ill, some people have good memory and some have bad but a sudden change in the memory from good to bad should be looked upon as suspicious of mental or physical illness.
By V Goldson
(1) The mind must register the impression
(2) The impression must be retained in the mind
(3) The impression must be reproduced by becoming aware of it
(4) We must recognise that we have experienced that particular event/impression before
Most elderly people have a memory for things that happen long time ago, but anything that occured recently might be forgotten, this is not because of a faulty memory but their brains are unable to recieve any more mental impressions and so nothing else can be retained.
We as individuals vary very much in our power of memory, some of us are able to recall better what we read from what we hear, that is because the mental impression we get from what we see (vision) is much stronger and more readily retained from what we hear.
This is what is known as ''visual memorizers.'' Most of us are of this type, of which we have the power of a strong photographic memory that has been recognised easily by the brain, thus enabling some of us with the capability of reciting a large number of curious facts and information on any subject.
Most of us find that we remember things easier by ''association'' that's because we form links in our minds between new impressions and those which we have experienced before. One thing reminds us of another which creates a chain of thought that lays down new impressions that are stored and reproduced when it is required.
Memory can fail not only in the elderly, but in many disorders of the mind which can result in failure to recall any impression that has been previously recorded. Some of which is known as general paralysis of the insane, senile dementia, or confusional insanity.
Loss of memory can also occur when people get addicted to alcohol. In alcoholism the loss of memory become peculiar and recent events are not remembered, but things happened long ago can be remembered easily.
Real memory is inborn it may vary if the person is tired, exhausted or physically ill, some people have good memory and some have bad but a sudden change in the memory from good to bad should be looked upon as suspicious of mental or physical illness.
By V Goldson
