1. Individual R&D program in cognitive psychology (2007/2019) - Didier Payet
Revision of the Hierarchy of Cognitive Memories
« Working Memory » has been renamed « Active » for a better understanding of how
the short term memories work.
During our paradoxical sleep phase (we dream) and our memories remain operational
because we remember our dreams. Sleeping is the opposite of activity and therefore
of work
Is it relevant to talk about « Working Memory » in this example?
The Timeless Memory
Genetic Memory or Cellular Memory: It represents the heritage of our parents,
grandparents and ancestors, but it is not included in the diagrammed memory
hierarchies of psychologists, psychiatrists and neurologists.
The explanation for this absence is that it is impossible to measure the brain activity of
a child during its development (its memorization faculties therefore begin by default, at
birth). Science is based on real, observable, measurable and quantifiable facts.
Genetic memory is inseparable from the genetic heritage of the women and men in our
family. It automatically feeds the 5 long term memories.
2. Individual R&D program in cognitive psychology (2007/2019) - Didier Payet
The Temporal Memories
The 5 Long Term Memories:
Semantic Mémory: It concerns our general knowledge of the world, the meaning of
words, language, rules and abstract concepts that allow the construction of a mental
representation of the world.
Semantic memory is an explicit memory and is independent of the spatio-temporal
context of its acquisition.
Episodic Memory: It concerns the history of our personal construction, it is our
autobiography. It relates to all the memories and events of the past (marriage, birth,
accident, etc.), the associated emotional state and it allows the construction of a mental
representation in the past.
Episodic memory is an explicit memory and is dependent on the spatio-temporal
context of its acquisition.
Procedural Memory: It concerns our know-how, our automatisms and techniques
acquired through training or repetition, such as driving a car, riding a bike, swimming,
washing, dressing.
Procedural memory is an implicit memory that always remains operational over time,
it does not require relearning.
Emotional Memory: It concerns emotional conditioning or blockages, fears of various
kinds or phobias. It differs from episodic memory in that it requires psychotherapy
because of the violence that caused the blockage(s).
Emotional memory is an implicit memory and can cause severe psychological
suffering.
Perceptual Memory: It concerns the memory of our 5 senses (sight, hearing, smell,
touch, taste). It allows us to remember a face, a sound, a flavour, a scent, the
temperature of water, etc.).
Perceptual memory is an implicit memory and can interact with all other memories.
Long Term Memory (LTM) allows for unlimited retention of information.
The 2 Short Term Memories :
Active Memory: Commonly called « Working Memory », it represents the current
situation, the present moment, and allows for the temporary storage and manipulation
of information in order to perform a particular task. Depending on the relevance and
impact of the information, it can be stored in one of the 5 long-term memories or erased.
3. Individual R&D program in cognitive psychology (2007/2019) - Didier Payet
Passive Memory: This can also be called Intuitive Memory. It functions like active
memory, but it interacts only with the 5 long-term memories (explicit as well as implicit)
in an undifferentiated way.
Short Term Memory (STM): It takes approximately 30 seconds to process and
manipulate information temporarily.
Certain diseases can alter the functioning of memories (Alzheimer's disease,
Korsakoff's syndrome, stroke, head trauma, coma, etc.) as well as old age.
