Semantic encoding refers to encoding something through its meaning.Īn example of semantic encoding would be if I asked you to name David Beckham’s spouse and all his children. If you begin to picture your garden in your mind right now in an effort to answer this, this would be an example of visual encoding.

One example of how information is encoded visually is if I asked you to think about how big your garden is? Visual encoding is when we process information visually in the form of a picture in our mind. One example of this is when we are given a mobile phone number to remember we repeat the number to ourselves to maintain the memory acoustically until we are able to write it down on paper. Research into how memories are encoded have focused on three forms of encoding:Īcoustic encoding is the holding of information in your memory in the form of sound. How are memories encoded, stored and retreived?Įncoding is the processing of information in some form into our memory. This is why children need to be shown how to do tasks such as riding a bike or swimming, rather than having it explained to them. Procedural memory is believed to be stored using a motor code rather than a verbal code. Procedural memory is the memory that helps us recall information on complicated skills.Īn example of this is how we recall the information we need to carry out action-based memories such as riding a bike, to swim or to tie our shoelaces. The answer, of course, is London, however, you have relied on your semantic memory to help you recall this fact. Semantic memory is a memory for facts and general knowledge.Īn example of semantic memory is knowledge about the meaning of words.įor example, what is the capital of England? places you visited or events that happened.Īn example of episodic memory could be when you remember your first day of school or a holiday you had taken last year. Research has shown that memory can generally be divided into the following types:Įpisodic memory refers to memories of personal events or experiences you may have had in your life that are personal to you. There are different types of memory we use to function with each serving a different purpose.

Examples of encoding in psychology