What are mnestic processes?
Human knowledge arises as a result of mnestic activity. Which has the goal of memorizing the relevant material in order to reproduce it later. Mnestic processes are those that occur in human memory and consist of the following stages:
- memorization is a process that ensures the retention of imprinted information; in the scientific sense it is divided into intentional and unintentional;
- preservation - during this process, the acquired information is transformed in different ways: by building associations, that is, assimilating the received material with what was already known and by interference, when the old material is improved due to its actualization;
- reproduction is a procedure that embodies and actualizes phases of existing experience (ideas, sensations, thoughts, feelings);
- recollection is a process that in theory is often not separated from the process of reproduction, but it should be noted that it is associated with an effort aimed at extracting images from long-term memory;
- recognition - fixation of an object of objective reality or phenomenon as previously familiar, establishment of associative connections between the observed and the preserved idea of it;
- forgetting - loss of the ability to reproduce, and sometimes even recognize, what was previously learned; Usually it affects something that is of little significance; can be partial or complete, and also vary in duration.
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The combination of “attentive-mnestic processes” is also often mentioned in the specialized literature. In these cases we are talking about the processes of attention and memory. As you know, they are very closely interconnected.
Mnestic activity of man. Peculiarities
Mnestic activity is the work of the cerebral cortex aimed at the perception, systematization and sequential reproduction of information. Only humans have the ability to remember information that is not related to the direct perception of the world through the senses. However, it is feelings that are associated with attention.
The human brain constantly perceives and analyzes the incoming stream of signals. But as conscious beings, we can selectively fix our attention on the necessary areas of knowledge and remember abstract statements that do not have visual properties.
Elementary and specific mnestic processes
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In neuroscience, it is customary to distinguish between elementary and specific mnestic processes. Elementary ones (sensitization, conditioned reflex) are present even in primitive animals. Specific ones are inherent in more advanced, multilayer types of memory.
Modal-specific mnestic processes are those that are associated with the functioning of various sensory systems. Based on this, the corresponding types of memory are distinguished: visual, auditory, tactile, olfactory, motor. A modality-specific type of memory often becomes necessary in professional activities (auditory memory of people involved in music).
Dyslexia due to memory impairment in children
Impaired memory of words and objects, difficulties with speech in early childhood may be associated with dyslexia. This is a special disorder of mnestic activity associated with a congenital anomaly in the region of the language center of the brain.
With this syndrome, the child experiences difficulty perceiving speech and dividing the flow of sounds into its component parts. Naturally, the development of memory and thinking in such children is slowed down. Studies of mnestic activity in children show that working with them, communicating, and pointing out errors of perception contribute to recovery from the syndrome.
It happens that the cause of difficulties in mastering writing is associated with visual-perceptual disorders.
Classification according to the nature of mental activity
Individual characteristics of mnestic processes are characterized by what material is best absorbed: figurative, verbal, or both equally:
- Figurative memory. This is the ability to perceive and retain in memory certain visual images (ideas, pictures from life) and subsequently reproduce them; the type of memory is determined by a set of modality-specific sensations. This memory is plastic, can be long-term and appear unexpectedly. It is believed that its structure is made up of complex connections of neuronal units from different parts of the brain.
- Emotional memory. This type of memory is the result of fixations and new manifestations of emotional experiences; simply put, it is a memory for feelings. An impression that contains an emotional coloring is remembered instantly and without volitional effort, thus replenishing the structures of the human subconscious. This is a very stable mnestic type, the material of which can be reproduced completely involuntarily. Its biological basis presumably contains connections that combine subcortical neuronal links with links in different parts of the cerebral cortex.
- Semantic memory. This mnestic process correlates with the imprinting of verbal signs symbolizing what is happening in reality and internal experiences. Schematically, it represents series-connected linear links. If one of the links suffers, then this is fraught with a break in the entire chain, failure of the correct alternation of stored realities and erasing of certain fragments from memory.
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Correction
Problems with memory have a negative impact on your studies and career. What can you do to improve your memory? There are several methods for correcting mnestic activity:
- If a person works with information, he needs to constantly get enough sleep.
- Take breaks during the learning process. The brain needs to rest and “reboot.”
- Organize material to make it easier to comprehend and remember. Build tables, pictures, diagrams.
- Use associations when learning.
- Remember more often the poems you taught at school.
To improve memory ability, it is recommended to take brain vitamins. These are Omega-3, glycine, all B vitamins.
If there are serious disturbances in the functioning of the cerebral cortex due to injury, more serious chemicals and treatment under medical supervision are required.
Mechanisms of regulation and imprinting
The recording of new information goes through three stages in time: initially, based on the work of the visual, auditory and tactile analyzers, an engram is formed, that is, a special trace in the iconic memory. At the next stage, the available data is sent to the higher authorities of the brain. In certain cortical structures and parts of the limbic system, the incoming material is analyzed and sorted.
It is known that the hippocampus acts as a kind of filter, classifying all this and discarding what is unnecessary, and the task of the temporal region is to establish relationships with areas where engrams are stored from other parts of the brain. At the last stage, all this is translated into a clear circuit of long-term memory.
Types of memory. Short-term and long-term memory
Mnestic activity is a special brain activity that allows you to learn to keep large amounts of information in your head for a long time; operate with concepts.
Memory is divided by modality into motor, emotional, figurative, verbal-logical. There is also a division into voluntary and involuntary.
Based on storage duration, memory is divided into instantaneous, short-term and long-term, or indefinite. Information that enters short-term memory, with constant fixation of attention on this material and repeated repetition, passes into long-term memory.
Disturbances of mnestic processes
Pathology research is carried out, as a rule, in 3 areas:
- clinical;
- neurophysiological;
- psychological.
Memory pathologies in general can be depicted as two separate groups - quantitative (dysmnesia) and qualitative (paramnesia) disorders. The first include such as hypermnesia, amnesia, hypomnesia, and the qualitative ones include false memories, contamination, jamevu or pseudo-reminiscence.
The most famous memory disorder, often mentioned in films and books, is amnesia. It comes in different types; they are united by a common inability to reproduce previously acquired knowledge, experienced events, or remember new material.
Reasons for violations
There are various reasons why mnestic processes suffer greatly. In psychology, this is a significant topic for research, since memory disorders underlie many mental illnesses. For example, patients with manic-depressive syndrome often have impaired memory function.
Modality-specific regulation of memory is dependent on the work of the primary fields and functional areas of the cerebral cortex. If their functioning is impaired, memory processes are also impaired. The most severe disorders of mnestic processes are those that are caused by organic changes in the brain.
Modal-nonspecific disorders are formed due to pathologies of subcortical brain structures: the neural network of the brainstem, limbic system, hippocampus. If the activity of the hippocampus is suddenly disrupted, “Korsakoff syndrome” may occur, in which the victim, having retained long-term memory, loses the ability to remember recent events.
Memory research methods
As has been said, memory can be voluntary or involuntary; and by shelf life - short-term and long-term. To study the properties of involuntary memory, subjects were asked to do light work. And upon completion of its implementation, they were asked to tell about the main stages, about what was remembered most vividly.
Short-term memory is studied in more detail. The subjects are tested for the ability to remember objects of different modalities and for the duration of retention of this information. The amount of short-term memory is also important. Each subject has special properties. But research allows us to identify general patterns - why we remember some thoughts and facts well, and why we forget others.
The classic method for studying memory was invented by psychologist Hermann Ebbinghaus. To test memory, he suggested using syllables that were absolutely meaningless. The inability to make any associations or apply one’s intellectual abilities makes it possible to determine the pure amount of “technical memory”. That is, that reservoir in the brain where information is stored only for some urgent task.
General principles of therapy for mnestic disorders
Disorders of mnestic processes quite often respond to drug therapy, as well as other methods of treatment. Options for their use depend on the specific diagnosis; in particularly severe cases, at least relief of symptoms is possible. The basic therapeutic regimen is built on the following principles:
- relief of an acute condition (for psychosis, trauma);
- consumption of vitamins;
- treatment with psychotropic drugs (tranquilizers, antipsychotics);
- correction of cerebral circulation (nootropics: “phenibut”, “phenotropil”, “mexidol” and others).
In addition to the main treatment, the following are prescribed:
- balanced diet;
- medicinal herbs (valerian, ginger, motherwort);
- cognitive development of memory (various hobbies, memorizing poetry, mastering new languages, educational games);
- individual work with a psychotherapist.
Intellectual-mnestic activity
Memorization is closely related to intellectual activity. And by training the intellect, we thereby develop memory.
Mnestic activity is the ability to learn new things and adapt to a changing reality. If you work in one job for many years and fulfill standard requirements, your intelligence decreases. A person must constantly study something, be interested in new trends in science, and have a developing hobby.
Children under 5 years of age develop very quickly. Their consciousness does not differentiate the incoming flow of information into “bad” and “good”, “profitable” and “unprofitable”. They perceive absolutely everything.
For the development of mnestic activity in children, it is important to communicate with them in a playful way. It is the game that develops intelligence, not memorization.
Mnestic activity is development. As soon as a person stops training his intellect and establishing new connections between neurons, the aging mechanism of the brain and the whole organism is triggered.
