What is Memory: Memory is the ability to store and retrieve information over time. It involves
three key processes: encoding (getting information into memory), storage (keeping information
in memory), and retrieval (accessing information from memory).
Types of Memory: There are several types of memory, including sensory memory (brief retention
of sensory information), short-term memory (temporary storage of information), and long-term
memory (relatively permanent storage of information). Long-term memory is further divided into
explicit memory (conscious memory for facts and events) and implicit memory (unconscious
memory for skills and habits).
Important Experiments: Many important experiments have been conducted on memory. These
include the classic studies by Ebbinghaus on forgetting, the research by Miller on the capacity of
short-term memory, and the work by Loftus on the reliability of eyewitness testimony.
Ebbinghaus Forgetting Curve: Hermann Ebbinghaus was a German psychologist who conducted
pioneering research on memory in the late 19th century. One of his most famous experiments
involved memorizing lists of nonsense syllables and then testing himself on how much he could
recall at different time intervals. Ebbinghaus found that forgetting follows a predictable pattern
over time, with the most rapid forgetting occurring soon after learning and then leveling off over
time. This pattern is now known as the Ebbinghaus forgetting curve.