The direct relationship between memory and learning

In the world of the human mind there is a deep and intriguing relationship between memory and learning. Learning is the process that allows us to absorb new information and acquire skills. While memory is the faculty that allows us to store and recall what we have learned.

These pillars of human knowledge They work together to play crucial and complementary roles in everyday life. For example, memory helps you remember traffic rules and make changes to the vehicle; while learning manifests itself in each experience behind the wheel, adapting to different conditions on the road and perfecting driving skills.

So understanding the relationship between the two is essential, since it gives us the key to improving our cognitive abilities and performance on a daily basis.

Direct relationship between memory and learning

A way of thinking about The relationship between the two concepts is to consider learning as the input and memory as the output. After all, we cannot remember unless we have learned first. And to do this we must have more knowledge in our memory.

In general, without memorization there is no learning. Despite this, in practice this has many nuances. According to a work from the Autonomous University of Manizales, the Learning is not just about passively storing information, but to actively make sense of it with information that we already have in our memory. Thus, a permanent change is generated in ideas, concepts and mental models.

When we learn something, we encode that information into memory. Memory encoding is the process by which the information we receive and experience is transformed and stored in long-term memory. It’s like translating information into a format that the brain understands and retains effectively.

For example, when we read a book, the brain translates the words and ideas into a structure that can be remembered, such as mental images or connections to prior knowledge.

Coding and working memory

Coding is not that simple. It is mediated by working memory and It is usually influenced by factors such as attention, emotions, motivation and the relevance of inflammation.

So, imagine that you have to study a book and you focus on understanding the main ideas of the text. You then relate them to your prior knowledge of the topic in a summary, all driven by the motivation to get an excellent grade on your exam.

This combination of motivation, attention and relevance contributes to effective encoding, since it allows information to be stored in long-term memory in a solid and lasting way. As a consequence, a significant change represents learning.

The The relationship between memory and learning is like a continuous cycle in which one feeds on the other. It is a symbiosis in which learning is just an act of storage through the encoding and use of information in memory.

Importance of learning in memory

As already mentioned, learning plays roles in memory functions. Here we explain some of the most important ones:

Reinforcements and update: As we learn, we reinforce and update the information in our memory, improving memory abilities.Organization and structuring: Learning involves organizing and structuring information in a meaningful way. This facilitates the storage and subsequent retrieval of information.Application in new contexts: Learning allows us to apply our knowledge and skills to new contexts and situations. This enriches memory by expanding its flexibility and usefulness.Information consolidation: according to Chilean Journal of Neuropsychology, When we learn something we strengthen our neural connections associated with that information, which facilitates long-term attention.Effective recovery: Through learning we develop strategies and skills to obtain information stored in long-term memory. We learn how to access and use our knowledge when we need it.

Importance of memory in learning

Memory also plays certain important roles in learning. We will now describe them:

Recover of information: By turning to its information and retrieving it in the moments we need it, we enrich our ability to learn.Knowledge Retention: It acts as an internal library, where we store all the information that comes to us from our experiences.Connections between concepts: facilitates the connection of knowledge, intertwining new information with current learning material (Carcamo Morales, 2018).Skill Acquisition: We can retain skills and abilities, such as learning to ride a bike or play a musical instrument, through repetition and practice.Problem resolution: It allows us to access learned solutions to solve a problem. Thanks to your memory, you remember the effective strategies and solutions used in similar situations. This way you manage to solve the current problem with the lessons learned in the past.

How can we benefit from this connection?

An effective way to use the relationship between memory and learning and optimize your cognitive abilities is to train your memory in the art of learning to learn. There are strategies that help information to be stored in your memory. long term, allowing to achieve lasting and significant learning.

Finally, Sharing what you learn with others reinforces memory and is meaningful. In short, memory and learning are closely related. Learning involves encoding and memory storage, while memory allows for retrieval and use of what you learned.

You might be interested…