How does your memory work? Let's learn about the different types of memory.

Do you sometimes think, "Oh, how did I forget that?" Some things, like an incident from your childhood, come to mind as soon as someone asks. But sometimes it's hard to remember where you put your keys or what you had for dinner last night. Why is that? This is the nature of the amazing process called memory. Simply put, memory is the way our brain takes in information, stores it, and organizes it so that it can be used again when needed.

It's normal for memory to decline a bit as we age. But in conditions like dementia, especially Alzheimer's, this memory loss can be severe. So today, let's talk about the different types of memory, how they work, and what things can affect them.

There are two main types of memory.

According to scientists, our memory can be divided into two main parts.

1. Explicit Memory: This is the stuff we consciously and consciously remember . For example, something you studied for an exam, your birthday, or an event in history. You have to make a little effort to remember these.

2. Implicit Memory: This is the stuff we just remember without any effort . These are like things we do out of habit. For example, you don't have to think about how to tie your shoelaces or how to ride a bike, right? It just happens. That's what this is all about.

There are several other subtypes within these two main types. Let's now talk about each of them separately.

Episodic Memory: Your Life Story

This is the type of memory that helps you remember your personal experiences and events. Think of your brain as an album of your life events. These memories are associated with many emotions. Things like how you felt on your first day of school, what happened on your wedding day, or where you were when a loved one died.

Semantic Memory: Your general knowledge

This is where the general facts you know about the world are stored. It's like an encyclopedia in your head. You don't have to remember when or where you learned these things, you just know them.

For example:

• Knowing what the capital of Sri Lanka is.
• Knowing that two, two, and four.
• Knowing the names of animals and fruits.

If this memory is impaired in dementia, a person may forget the names of people they know, the names of objects, and may have difficulty finding the right words when speaking.

Working Memory: Your Brain's Notepad

This is a type of short-term memory. It's like a little notepad in your brain. It helps you remember information temporarily, just for the sake of doing something at the moment. Once the task is done, that information is forgotten.

Imagine, someone tells you a phone number. Do you keep it in your head until you write it down or dial it? That's what working memory helps with. Also, this memory is essential for remembering the steps when calculating numbers, and for listening to something someone says and then giving an answer.

If this memory of someone with dementia weakens, it will take them longer to do simple calculations (e.g., adding up the bill at a store) and they will have difficulty following instructions.

Procedural Memory: Things done habitually

This is the type of memory that helps us remember skills and habits that we have learned. You don't have to think about these things. The brain does it automatically. Examples of this include riding a bike, driving a car, cooking, and typing on a phone.

Other types of memory and taking care of memory

In addition to these main types, there is also a type called prospective memory . This is remembering to do something in the future. For example, remembering to "take your medicine at 8 p.m." Forgetting this can sometimes be dangerous.

And also Sensory MemoryIt means remembering information received from our five senses (eyes, ears, nose, tongue, skin) for less than a second. This is like a filter. Only the information we pay attention to from this incoming information goes into short-term memory.

If you or someone in your family is having memory problems, don't panic or panic, and definitely talk to your doctor. Some memory problems can also be caused by treatable causes, such as vitamin deficiencies, thyroid problems, or stress. Therefore, it is very important to find the right cause and treat it.