The episodic memory It is the type of memory that is related to autobiographical events, such as moments, places and emotions associated with these situations. That is, it constitutes the memory and knowledge about the contexts. For example, remembering the events of a wedding is part of episodic memory..
Episodic memory is a capacity that allows people to remember all the experiences, situations and events they experience throughout their lives. It is characterized by being able to be evoked explicitly. That is, both the storage and the retrieval of this type of information can be done in a literal way..
Along with semantic memory, episodic memory makes up declarative memory, one of the two main subdivisions of human memory. Declarative memory is characterized by being explicit, while procedural memory makes up the other great type of memory of human beings and is implicit.
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Episodic memory is that memory that is used to encode personal experiences and consciously retrieve events and episodes from the past.
This type of memory refers to the memory of elements that happen at a specific moment in time. This moment can encompass both recent past (a few minutes, a few hours or a few days before) as well as distant past (months and years before).
Episodic memory has three main characteristics: temporality, contextual information, and conscious recall..
Episodic memory has a temporary character. The information that this type of memory encompasses is located at a specific time in the past.
Temporal contextualization of episodic memory can be precise or vague. That is, the moment in which the memorized elements happened can be remembered exactly or it can be remembered in a vague and diffuse way..
In either case, the remembered elements are part of the episodic memory as long as they refer to personal experiences and autobiographical events..
Episodic memory includes spatial information and perceptual information. The memory incorporates elements about the space and context in which the event occurred.
The appearance, shape or color are aspects that are incorporated into episodic memory, which is why the memory is always explicit.
Finally, episodic memory is characterized by generating a fully conscious memory. The person is aware of having lived and experienced the event in the first person.
Information retrieval is always carried out in an explicit and voluntary way, so the elements of episodic memory are not stored in the unconscious..
To form, this type of memory goes through four processes:
Encoding is the process by which information is represented in memory. Four different codes participate in the coding process of episodic memory: visual, acoustic, semantic, and motor actions..
Different senses participate in the capture of stimuli, which are encoded in different codes to become part of episodic memory.
From an evolutionary point of view, episodic memory develops late in childhood, reaches its highest level in adulthood, and progressively deteriorates in old age. In general, adults have greater capacities to remember autobiographical aspects than children and the elderly.
Regarding encoding processes, episodic memory has three main elements: processing, elaboration, and meaning..
The more extensive the processing, the better the storage and retrieval of the memory. This means that the longer you are in contact with a type of information, the better it is remembered.
For this reason, the exposure time of the material greatly affects the memory. The longer the exposure time, both the memory and the recognition will be better. For example, a long stage living in one city will be better remembered than having spent a short time in another city.
On the other hand, certain studies have shown that distributed practice is better remembered than mass practice. That is, events that happen several times on different days are generally remembered better than events that happen during a prolonged period of time but occur only once..
The elaboration consists of the formation of memories.
Information that is processed in a superficial way is learned worse than when that same information is processed at a deep level. There are two types of processing: visual (superficial) and semantic (deep)
On the other hand, the longer the time period of the presentation of the stimulus, the better the memory..
Semantic memory also presents a hierarchical organization. When the information to be retained is presented in a hierarchically organized way, its retention is better than when the material is presented without organization..
Storage is the process that allows the information captured and encoded in brain structures to be saved. According to current neurobiological approaches, the storage of information depends on the change produced in the connectivity of the synapse between brain neurons.
However, there are certain controversies when determining the operation of the storage process.
A fairly accepted theory is that postulated by Ebbinghaus, who stated that forgetting occurs through disuse. If the stored information is not used, it decays with the passage of time and oblivion occurs..
Likewise, interference, as proposed by McGeoch, is also an important element when determining the storage of information. Events that occur between the time of learning and later recall can lead to forgetfulness.
For the episodic memory to fulfill its function, once the information has been encoded and stored, it must be recovered. Otherwise, the memory is not generated and the memorization process fails..
The recovery process refers to the activity of consciously recovering the elements stored in memory.
Signs of recovery play a major role in episodic memory. Effective signals that allow retrieval of previously stored material lead to memory operation.
However, information retrieval can also be carried out without signals. In these cases we speak of free retrieval, which, unlike memory by keys, only has contextual keys.
Cognitive neuroscience has focused on examining what functions each brain region performs and which brain structures participate in the performance of each mental activity.
In the case of the formation of new episodic memories, intervention of the medial temporal lobe is required. This structure includes the hippocampus, the region of the brain most involved with memory processes..
Without the intervention of the medial temporal lobe it would be possible to generate new procedural memories. For example, a person could learn to play the piano, ride a bike, or write..
However, without the intervention of the medial temporal lobe, it would be impossible to remember the events experienced during learning. For example, a person could learn to ride a bicycle but would not remember how he did it or what happened when he practiced..
On the other hand, the prefrontal cortex, specifically the part of the prefrontal cortex corresponding to the left cerebral hemisphere, is also involved in the generation of new episodic memories.
Specifically, the prefrontal cortex is responsible for carrying out the encoding processes of semantic memory. Thus, people with this damaged brain region are capable of learning new information, but often do so in the wrong way..
Most commonly, subjects with a damaged prefrontal cortex are able to recognize an object they have seen in the past, but have difficulty remembering where and when they saw it.
In this sense, several investigations have shown that the prefrontal cortex is responsible for organizing information to facilitate more efficient storage. In this way, it would fulfill a role within the scope of the executive function.
However, other studies suggest that the prefrontal cortex would be more involved in the development of semantic strategies that favor the coding of information, such as the establishment of significant relationships between the content already learned and the new information.
In summary, episodic memory appears to be performed by two main brain structures: the medial temporal lobe and the prefrontal cortex. However, the operation and activity of the latter is somewhat more controversial today..
At present, multiple pathologies have been described that can cause problems in episodic memory. Most of these diseases are characterized by affecting the previously mentioned brain structures.
The review of the behavioral studies of autism indicates that this pathology could produce selective damage in the limbic-prefrontal system of episodic memory.
The relationship between autism and episodic memory alterations is not clearly established, but subjects with this pathology often present problems in remembering autobiographical events.
Amnesia is a broad term that refers to memory loss. This alteration usually produces significant deficits in episodic memory..
Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disease that usually affects the hippocampus before other regions of the brain. The main symptom of the pathology is memory loss, widely affecting episodic memory.
Korsakoff syndrome is a disease caused by a deficiency of vitamin B1. It usually manifests itself in subjects who have chronic alcoholism and among its extensive symptoms there is a notable impairment of episodic memory.
Autobiographical memory is included within episodic memory and refers to personal representations of general or specific events and personal experiences.
Autobiographical memory also includes the memory of an individual of one's own personal history, and is characterized by presenting a constructive character and presenting a high level of reliability.
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