Ryan Bodnar
Psychology 100
Professor Wede
22 October 2023
Source Amnesia
Amnesia is something that you may have heard of it is a disease that causes people to not remember most things for example their own name. But source amnesia is different from amnesia, source amnesia is the inability to recall the source of information. For example, you know that the capital of Pennsylvania is Harrisburg, but do you remember how your learned that? We obtain this information and remember it as facts, but it is unknown where this information is originated in our memory. Source amnesia directly effects the explicit memory. Explicit memory is when day to day information is retrieved consciously with an effort. But the Information in the Explicit memory can be lost if the Information retrieved is not often recalled. Source amnesia is does not affect implicit memories, implicit memories are riding a bike or driving a car, even though you may have not ridden a bike since childhood they would instantly remember how to ride a bike.
We all have experienced source amnesia and have forgotten information that you know you knew. Some of my personal experiences of source amnesia come from math class. Sometimes I will forget my times tables and have you use a calculator. Even though I learned and memorized my timetables when I was young. I constantly find myself not remembering simple multiplication problems. Even though I learned and spent hours learning this information I will find myself at a lost and unable to come up with the answers. Another example of Source memory that I experience is when I study for a test and but the effort to get a good grade on the exam, but I forget some of the information when I am taking the test. This are both examples of something that I put hours into and a lot of effort, but I couldn’t remember it during that certain situation. When we think about this concept of source amnesia there are multiple examples that you can experience it and how you experience it I your everyday life.
Source amnesia primarily affects our explicit memory. With this it is frustrating to put a lot of effort into studying for a test just to blank out during it. This is due to the fact that sometimes where or how you learn something influences how well you recall it later. So your examples fully support the claim that source amnesia is a real issue that affects us all. It serves as a helpful reminder that consistent practice and recall can make information stick in our memories.
This is well written post. I think you captured source amnesia very well. Your example of time tables is relatable. Many times I have had the same issue and felt the need to double check my math. I feel like I always forget information the second I am given an exam.
I like the example of remembering that the capital of Pennsylvania is Harrisburg, but not remembering where you learned it from. Lots of information in our day to day lives can be summed up with this type of amnesia. Really, good post overall.