What is the semantic memory function?

Semantic memory is a form of long -term memory that stores general information about the world, unlike autobiographical memories or learning linked to a specific event. It is used for both loading and to apply knowledge in specific situations. People use semantic memory in a wide range of life contexts, from children who discover that they can manipulate their surroundings, to students using basic knowledge of reading to gain other knowledge, adults who invent instructions based on the position of the setting sun.

Basic information, such as the meaning of words and more complex thinking skills, falls into the category of semantic memory. This process begins soon in life because small children constantly increase their knowledge of the world. For example, most two -year -olds can identify a cat. At a time when the child is four or five, he probably knows that the cat has a fur and that the lizard is not. Although a child may not have any specific memory with this fact can identify from the pictures thatOf these two animals, it is furry. This last task includes not only loading information, but also applies it.

As is often the case in psychology, understanding the function of semantic memory can also be understood by the look at what happens when it does not work properly. This is most common in older adults whose ability to gain some memories can penetrate. In simple cases, this may briefly forget the name of the author who wrote Tom Sawyer . Age -related problems such as Alzheimer's disease may cause more complex problems. Although Alzheimer's disease is most often associated with loss of personal or episodic memory, it can also affect semantic memories, especially in terms of words.

In addition, some mental health conditions may disrupt semantic memory. Desorganization in the memory structure can be part of the mouse difficultyLenka pattern that some people experience with schizophrenia. Some scientists believe that this particular type of memory disruption is that it is unable to remember information, but that it cannot interpret and apply information correctly. Mood disorders, especially bipolar disorders, may disrupt the process of creating new semantic memories or gaining existing memories.

Semantic memory can use information stored in several different areas of the brain, such as visual information stored in time bark and factual information stored in the frontal cortex. If everything works well, these different areas can communicate with each other. For example, a person who looks at a home cat will be able to identify it and also remember that a domestic cat is a four -legged mammal falling into the category of felines. In the case of a stroke or traumatic brain injury, these communication lines could disintegrate, resulting in a semantic memory failure. For example, a man thenHe can look at the home cat and will not be able to combine what he sees with other information he knows about the cats.