Memory explained through Inside Out

To remember the past and build the future. This is the powerful position that memory holds in every human’s life. Although there are still various unknowns within this concept, memory does follow a clear sequence. This fascinating process can be broken down into three main stages: encoding, storage, and retrieval. The movie Inside Out vividly illustrates these stages, showing how memories are formed, stored, and even sometimes lost,

The first stage of forming memories is encoding, which is how the brain transforms the sensory input it receives — such as visuals, sounds, and semantics — into a form that is able to be stored. 

After encoding, the storage phase begins. There are three components within this phase: sensory memory, short term memory, and long term memory. Sensory memory holds raw sensory information for an extremely short amount of time, usually less than a second. This information can then be processed to short term memory, which retains information for around 20-30 seconds. To store the information for a longer period, the information to then be transferred into long-term memory through rehearsal. This provides unlimited capacity to remember information indefinitely. Inside Out demonstrates this with Riley’s “core memories,” which represent her strong long-term memories that shape Riley’s personality as she continues to grow up. Emotionally charged experiences, which are represented by the orbs of the different emotions like sadness, are encoded more strongly due to the amygdala’s role in processing emotions and are therefore more memorable to people among their other memories. 

 The last stage is retrieval. This stage is directly responsible for when we attempt to recall information. When retrieval fails, forgetting happens, similar to how the memories in Inside Out can be discarded over time if deemed unnecessary or be temporarily lost. 

Overall, understanding the stages of memory can help us not only improve how we learn but also make sense of our actions and reactions. While the movie Inside Out is entertaining, it also delivers an important lesson: our memories shape who we are and influence the person we become. By appreciating how memory works, we can better understand ourselves and the experiences that define our lives.

Citations:

Cleveland Clinic. “Memory: What It Is, How It Works & Types.” Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, 16 Sept. 2024, my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/memory.