A Look into the Human Memory Process
Jasmin Chopper
American Intercontinental University

Abstract
The memory process is comprised of different aspects which a person uses to acquire, retain, store, and later retrieve information. There are different systems of the memory process that are in charge of different types of memories. A stage model is used to help better understand the 3 different stages of memory: sensory memory, short-term memory, and long- term memory. There are ways to help one improve the process of information flowing into the next stage of memory. Some factors contribute to a person’s inability to properly retrieve information as well as cause a person to forget information. Memory is a complex process that pertains to more than just looking at an object and remembering what you saw.

A Look into the Human Memory Process The human memory is a process in which we use to acquire, store, retain, and later retrieve information. Memory has to deal with different systems that are in charge of different types of memories (Sayre, 2011). A way of understanding more about memory would be to look at the stage model of memory, which is often used to explain the basic structure as well as function of memory. The model was initially proposed by Atkinson and Shiffron in 1968, this theory outlines 3 different stages of memory: sensory memory, short-term memory, and long-term memory. Sensory memory is the earliest stage of memory where sensory information from the environment is stored for a very brief period of time. The information process could be gained thru hearing, seeing, touching etc. The duration of sensory memory is very short- less than 0.5 seconds. What part of the information goes to the next stage depends on the selection process (skybrary.aero, 2011). Sensory memory that is not passed to the next stage is usually forgotten. Sensory