Psychology Memory Testing Encoding Is Thesis

0-14 you may want to consider getting a professional evaluation" (Mohs, n.d.).

In regards to this memory test the first two questions in which you were given three words and then a name and address to remember, the concept of encoding was being used. In order to retrieve these pieces of information from my memory, I first had to encode them. Once they were encoded they were stored first in my sensory memory, and then in my short-term memory. Since things are usually only stored in ones short-term memory for up to 20 to 30 seconds and it took me longer than that to get to the question on the test that asked me to recall these, they obviously passed into my long-term memory as well.

Retrieving these pieces of information was rather easy since it had not been very long since I had first been exposed to them. There were other pieces of information that was asked in subsequent questions that was more difficult to recall. One question asked to name the last three mayors of the city. I did eventually come up with the answer, but it took several seconds before the names came to me. Another question, with which I had difficulty recalling the answer to, was one that asked me to name the main course that had been for dinner for the last to evenings. And even though I had cooked dinner the night before I could not for the life of me remember what it had been. I did finally remember it after a minute or so. The explanation for this can be that the information had not been encoded very well since it took me a long time to recall it.I guess it was lucky for me that there wasn't a time limit on the test or that there were no penalties for taking longer to answer some questions over others.

While most everyone experiences some everyday forgetting, a few people have a true organic problem with memory that makes it very difficult for them to remember things. The following common warning signs might indicate that there are memory problems that may be more than everyday forgetfulness and should be looked at by a professional:

Memory problems that affect ones performance at a job or interfere with everyday functioning

Difficulties with frequently forgetting simple words or substituting words that don't fit

Disorientation in familiar places or situations

Confusion in regards to the time of day, month, season, or decade

Having decreased or unusually poor judgment

Memory problems along with other symptoms such as extreme fatigue, loss of interest in activities, rapid or unusual changes in mood, agitation, listlessness, problems with balance and coordination, headaches, vision problems, numbness, shortness of breath, or chest pain (Mohs, n.d.).

References

Mohs, Richard C. (n.d.). How to Test Your Memory. Retrieved April 25, 2009, from How Stuff

Works Web site: http://health.howstuffworks.com/human-memory.htm.....