Arguably, memory is one of the elementary mental processes. As a matter of fact, Neuroscientists use diverse strategies to study the process, and demonstrate the link between memory and learning. Memory refers to the process of storing information in the brain for a long time. In fact, there is a connection between memory and learning; in that memory is one of the crucial concepts of learning. It is very difficult to imagine an individual trying to learn without the process of memorizing. Hence, as a process, memory entails a dynamic mechanism that is associated with retrieval and retention of information about the past experience. There are critical ways of learning and how memory works in human beings. Psychologists study memory in various ways, and as well focuses on how to improve it. In addition, memory plays an important role in instrumental conditioning, social learning theory, as well as classical conditioning.
In every aspect of learning storing information is very important. The information that is expected to be stored to facilitate learning takes place through memorizing. Information that is learned will only be used in the future if it is well stored. The information learned therefore can be stored in different memory capacities (Hudmon, 2006). There the connection between memory and leaning is essential. It is worth noting that memory and learning are processes that are not unitary. Memory is actually a composite of our various experiences; without memory and learning there could be no articulate thought process, ability to perceive as well as language. The connection between learning and memory comes in how it coordinates, and how one becomes the accomplishment of the other. Learning takes place when information is stored in the memory (Nicholas, 2008). In fact, memory and learning are affected factors such as cognitive skills, environment, as well as experience.
Undeniably, memory plays a crucial role in instrumental conditioning, classical conditioning, as well as social learning theory. Classical conditioning depends on the memory; it entails a learning process that CS (conditioned stimulus) comes as a pointer to occurrence entailing second stimulus. Therefore, memory is important because it stores the information learned previously that will play a significant role in the future response (Nicholas, 2008). Memory becomes the storage house of information that may possibly in the future be used to develop a certain behavior. For example, a student may learn to develop to dislike a subject, because of encountering unpleasant stimuli in the past. The memory stores these stimuli that are responsible for developing a certain behavior.
Memory also has a role to play in instrumental conditioning. As stated, memory is connected to learning through storage and retrieval of information, instrumental conditioning is a process whereby animals and humans learn to always behave in a certain manner to avoid punishment and get rewards. The memory plays a key role in the response process of humans; the training that animals learn in a certain condition is processed and stored in the brain. The instrumental conditioning is as a result of long-term memory that triggers the voluntary behaviors in animals (Hudmon, 2006). There are various observable causes that trigger the voluntary response. Memory stores the active behavior in an environment, which leads to generation of consequences.
Perhaps memory is also essential in social learning theory. In fact, social learning theorists assert that individuals are shaped in various ways by the environment through learning. The involvement of the learning process in the social learning theory brings in the role and importance of memory. The main role of memory in social learning theory is that it stores the observable behaviors within the environment that is crucial in developing a certain behavior (Nicholas, 2008). The encoding process takes place in human brain so as to form a behavior that the model performs. Observational learning on its own is a cognitive process. One of the necessary conditions for modeling is retention; hence, memory ensures that an individual remembers what she/he has observed. In general perspective, there is a connection between memory and learning. Moreover, memory plays a crucial role in instrumental conditioning, classical conditioning, and social learning theory.
References
Hudmon, A. (2006). Learning and memory. Philadelphia: Chelsea House Publishers.
Nicholas, L. J. (2008). Introduction to psychology. Cape Town: UCT Press.
