雙語·記憶為什么重要

Why Memory Matters
記憶為什么重要

What is memory? The general consensus is that memory is a multitude of cognitive systems which allow us to store information for certain periods of time so that we can learn from our past experiences and predict the future.
什么是記憶？人們普遍的共識是，記憶是多種認知系統，允許我們把信息存儲一段時間，進而可以汲取過去的經驗，預測未來的發(fā)展。

Memory impacts every facet of our lives. The first step to remembering things better is to understand how your memory works.
記憶影響著我們生活的各個方面。更好地記憶事物的第一步，是理解你的記憶系統如何工作。

There are two basic kinds of memory – retrospective and prospective. Whereas retrospective memory is about remembering what happened in the past, prospective memory is about reminding yourself to do something in the future. Without prospective memory, you would not remember to go to work in the morning and you would forget to set your alarm clock in the evening.
有兩類基本的記憶——回溯記憶和前瞻記憶?；厮萦洃浭且浧疬^去發(fā)生了什么，而前瞻記憶是提醒你在未來要做某件事情。要是沒有前瞻記憶，你會早上想不起去上班，晚上忘記上鬧鐘。

One way to divide up retrospective memory is in the kinds of things it stores. A big difference here is between implicit and declarative memory.
細分回溯記憶的一種方式，是根據存儲事項的類型。區(qū)別很大的兩類分別是內隱記憶和陳述性記憶。

Implicit memory is essentially skill memory – the ability to do a task. If your implicit memory failed, you would not be able to brush your teeth, take a shower, drive your car or ride a bike. This kind of memory shows up in our abilities, but we can't always articulate what it is we know in words and concepts.
內隱記憶本質上是一種技能記憶——完成一項任務的能力。如果內隱記憶失效了，你將無法刷牙、洗澡、駕駛或騎車。這種記憶在我們能做的事中表現出來，但我們并不總是能夠用詞語或概念清楚地表達出我們所知道的是什么。

Declarative memory, in contrast, is either memory for facts and meaning (semantic) or memory for events (episodic). Without semantic memory, you would not understand the content of what your colleagues or friends were saying. Without episodic memory, you would struggle to recount your day later to someone else.
陳述性記憶則相反，指的是關于事實或含義的（語義）記憶，或關于事件的（情節(jié)）記憶。沒有了語義記憶，你將無法理解同事或朋友所說的內容。沒有了情節(jié)記憶，你將很難向其他人講述自己一天的經歷。

Another way to examine memory is based on its duration. Working memory (WM) manipulates and stores information for short periods of time. Talking with your colleagues, discussing a point at a meeting and planning your weekend would be entirely impossible without WM. In contrast, long-term memory (LTM) serves as a long-term storage of information. Almost all of our everyday activities depend on LTM, such as remembering our way home or how to drive a car.
另一種研究記憶的方式是根據它持續(xù)的時間。工作記憶（WM）負責短期加工并存儲信息。如果沒有工作記憶，與同事聊天、在會議上討論一個要點和規(guī)劃周末的安排，都將變得不可能。與此相反，長期記憶（LTM）負責長期存儲信息。我們日常的活動幾乎全部依賴長期記憶，例如記得回家的路或如何駕駛一輛汽車。

Here's a quick recap of the different types of memory:
讓我們迅速回顧一下記憶的不同類型：

·Retrospective Memory — Remembering the past
·回溯記憶——記得過去的事情

–…by Content
·按內容劃分

·Declarative / Explicit
·陳述性記憶/外顯記憶

–Semantic — Memory of facts and meaning
·語義記憶——關于事實和含義的記憶

–Episodic — Experiences you've had
·情節(jié)記憶——你的經歷

–…by Duration
·按持續(xù)時間劃分

·Working Memory – What you can “keep in mind” at the same time, to think, reason and solve problems.
·工作記憶——你能夠同時在腦子里記住什么內容，用來思考、推理和解決問題。

·Long-term Memory – Anything you remember longer than a moment–what you ate for breakfast, exam questions or your friend's birthday.
·長期記憶——任何你記住超過一會兒的內容：早飯吃了什么，考試題目，或者朋友的生日。

·Prospective Memory — Reminding yourself to do something in the future
·前瞻記憶——提醒你自己未來要做某件事

In this guide, we're going to focus mostly on declarative, semantic memories. This is covers most of the things you're trying to “remember”, like facts, dates, names and ideas.
在這本指南中，我們將主要關注陳述性的語義記憶，這涉及大部分你試圖“記住”的東西，例如事實、日期、姓名和思想。

——節(jié)選自《記憶的科學》