It is comparable to that of the human memory system--though the memory of a human being is far greater than that of a simple computer. Our memory system is composed of a network where information is distributed throughout our brain cells. Those brain cells will make thousands of connections with the information they are given. That compared to the computer’s information stored in discrete files. It is a crucial part of us that makes us truly human, and yet it is one of the most elusive and misunderstood of human attributes.The brain is able to build, create, and imagine because of our memory system. It brings in information, stores it, retrieves it, then disposes of the information when it is no longer useful(Mastin).
Memory begins with our senses. Sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch are the base for the memories that we have. It 's easy to think of our memory being like a mental filing cabinet, depositing away chunks of information until we need them. The most common analogy we see of the brain is that of a computer. New bits of information are written in a particular location, and stored in the hard drive. For a better example, encoding of a memory is like hitting save on a computer file. Once the file is saved, it can be retrieved as long as the hard drive remains …show more content…
Without a memory of the past, we could not engage in the present or think to the future. We would not be able to remember what we did the previous day, what we have done today or what we plan on doing tomorrow. Without memory we could not learn anything.Memory is involved in processing vast amounts of information that we are exposed to on a daily basis.(McLeod 1)
When a signal is sent to the brain it goes through a process known as encoding. This first step is crucial in creating a new memory. It allows the item that we perceive to be converted into a signal that can be stored within the brain in either short-term or long-term memory. “Encoding is the first step in creating a memory. It 's a biological phenomenon, rooted in the senses, that begins with perception”. (Miller pg.2)
Encoding begins with perception through our senses. The process of forming a memory begins with attention. The Thalamus and the frontal lobe of our brain are in charge of holding the attention coming from our senses.When a signal is sent neurons fire more frequently creating a stronger bond of that signal in our memory. When emotions are involved our attention is increased to the details of the new memory. The emotional moment is processed on an unconscious pathway to the Amygdala, there the event is