Cognition and Memory Cognition: Particularly Memory Starting Term Paper

Cognition and Memory

Cognition: Particularly Memory

Starting from a purely global point, at least as far as it applies to humans (animals in general actually), the brain is where everything begins. Within its folds and neural pathways are contained the chemicals that allow the electrical impulses which in turn produce thought. Every creature has thought at some level. A gnat does not travel completely based on instinct; there is some primitive awareness of what it is traveling toward and the need to possess certain elements from its environment which will allow the tiny insect to feed and reproduce. Of course, some would have people believe that every action is the result of some type of instinctual movement toward some reward and away from a punishment. Others see every action or thought as resulting from environmental stimuli and believe that nothing occurs innately. Of course, most beliefs that include such all or nothing statements are false, but these two, behaviorism and strict biological psychology, offer some elements of the truth with regard to thought, so they must at least be paid attention to. Since the brain is where it all begins, that is where the discussion starts.

Cognition is the simple term people use to explain very complex processes. Among these are memory and decision making. Both are very complex cognitive abilities that only some animals possess to one degree or another, but humans can accomplish both to a surprisingly advanced degree. Memory can be said to occur in stages which starts with an input being moved to the short-term field, then, if it is deemed worthy, to the long-term field. Of course, there are those who believe that everything that a person has ever experienced, from the first peek of light upon exiting the womb, to the thought that occurred milliseconds ago, are all encoded to some degree on the folds of the brain.Whereas this may or may not be so, it is interesting to think that the 90% of grey matter humans do not use may be occupied as storage. Decision making is actually an even more complex skill which requires memory, some understanding of the situation about which the decision is being made, and the ability to put every element of the process together to come up with a decision. This process is complete many times during the day because every action a human does is wrapped in some decision making process.

The decision may be so routine that it does not seem to be taking place, but it still does. For example, a woman eats the same grilled cheese sandwich every day. Sometimes she makes it herself, but usually, on the days she is working, she buys it from a certain corner deli called Mac's. Regardless where the sandwich comes from, it is always on sourdough bread, spread with margarine (not butter) on both sides of both pieces of bread, and using Munster cheese. When she arrives at the deli, the people at the counter know she is going to order the same grilled cheese and diet coke. But, even though she is going to eat the same thing for lunch every single day of her life, there are other choices available. Because there are other sandwiches served at….....