Week Eight Post One

            While reading chapter twelve I grew a strong interest toward the section on memory.  I always portrayed myself as having a horrible memory, so to look into the actual developmental process caught my attention. Various types of input, and many methods of storage and retrieval, affect the cognitive abilities of school-aged children.  There are three major steps that affect the memory process and development. They include sensory memory, working memory, and long-term memory. In all honesty before reading this section I had no idea there was three different types of memory. Sensory memory is the component of the information-processing system in which incoming stimulus information is stored for a split second to allow it to be processed. It is said that sensations caused by sensory memory are sometimes turned into perceptions. Once some sensations become perceptions, the brain selects certain perceptions to transfer to the working memory. Working memory is the component of the information-processing system in which current conscious mental activity occurs.  Working memory is the fancy term for the common known term short-term memory. Long-term memory is the component of the information-processing system in which virtually limitless amounts of information can be stored indefinitely. Together with sensory memory and working memory, long-term memory assists in organizing ideas and reactions. I find it really intriguing that there are three different types of memory, and I am even more amazed that they all tend to work together at some point or another. I also find it interesting to know that the brain can select certain perceptions, I never realized our brain even had that ability.