page_title: Memory
section_title: Failures
hierarchical_section_title: Memory / Failures
caption_attribution_description: English: The garden of oblivion. Deutsch: Garten des Vergessens. Zeichnung für Berliner Illustrierte Zeitung.
context_page_description: Memory is the faculty of the brain by which data or information is encoded, stored, and retrieved when needed. It is the retention of information over time for the purpose of influencing future action. If past events could not be remembered, it would be impossible for language, relationships, or personal identity to develop. Memory loss is usually described as forgetfulness or amnesia.
  Memory is often understood as an informational processing system with explicit and implicit functioning that is made up of a sensory processor, short-term memory, and long-term memory. This can be related to the neuron.
  The sensory processor allows information from the outside world to be sensed in the form of chemical and physical stimuli and attended to various levels of focus and intent. Working memory serves as an encoding and retrieval processor. Information in the form of stimuli is encoded in accordance with explicit or implicit functions by the working memory processor. The working memory also retrieves information from previously stored material. Finally, the function of long-term memory is to store data through various categorical models or systems.
context_section_description: Transience – memories degrade with the passing of time. This occurs in the storage stage of memory, after the information has been stored and before it is retrieved. This can happen in sensory, short-term, and long-term storage. It follows a general pattern where the information is rapidly forgotten during the first couple of days or years, followed by small losses in later days or years.
  Absent-mindedness – Memory failure due to the lack of attention. Attention plays a key role in storing information into long-term memory; without proper attention, the information might not be stored, making it impossible to be retrieved later.
caption: The garden of oblivion, illustration by Ephraim Moses Lilien.
exif: {"Image Make": "Canon", "Image Model": "CanoScan 5600F", "Image Orientation": "Horizontal (normal)", "Image XResolution": "400", "Image YResolution": "400", "Image ResolutionUnit": "Pixels/Inch", "Image Software": "MP Navigator EX 2.0", "Image DateTime": "2011:11:20 19:49:58", "Image YCbCrPositioning": "Centered", "Image ExifOffset": "212", "Thumbnail Compression": "JPEG (old-style)", "Thumbnail Orientation": "Horizontal (normal)", "Thumbnail XResolution": "400", "Thumbnail YResolution": "400", "Thumbnail ResolutionUnit": "Pixels/Inch", "Thumbnail JPEGInterchangeFormat": "452", "Thumbnail JPEGInterchangeFormatLength": "4906", "EXIF ExifVersion": "0221", "EXIF DateTimeDigitized": "2011:11:20 19:49:58", "EXIF ComponentsConfiguration": "YCbCr", "EXIF FlashPixVersion": "0100", "EXIF ColorSpace": "sRGB", "EXIF ExifImageWidth": "3307", "EXIF ExifImageLength": "4677", "EXIF FileSource": "Reflection Print Scanner", "EXIF WhiteBalance": "Auto"}