P.G.I. Memory Scale.
INTORDUCTION
Memory is defined as the process of maintaining information over time” (Matlin, 2005) or“Memory
is the means by which people draw on their past experiences in order to use this information in the
present’ (Sternberg, 1999).
Stages of memory involve encoding, storage and retrieval. Encoding is the crucial first step to
creating a new memory. It allows the perceived item of interest to be converted into a constructthat
can be stored within the brain, and then recalled later. There are three main ways in
whichinformation can be encoded. Visual, semantic and acoustic. Visual encoding is the process
ofencoding images and visual sensory information. Visual sensory information is temporarilystored
within the iconic memory before being encoded into long-term storage. Semanticencoding is the
process of encoding sensory input that has particular meaning or can be appliedto a particular
context, rather than deriving from a particular sense. Acoustic encoding is
the processing and encoding of sound, words and other auditory input for storage and later
retrieval. This is aided by the concept of the phonological loop, which allows input within ourechoic
memory to be sub-vocally rehearsed in order to facilitate remembering. Storage is themore or less
passive process of retaining information. Retrieval is the process of getting theinformation out of
memory. There are basically two main types of retrieval; recognition andrecall. Recognition is the
process of matching a fact or concept with one already in memory.Mainly there are three different
types of memory. Sensory memory, short term memory andlong term memory. Sensory Memory is a
very brief (about three seconds) recall of a sensoryexperience, such as what one just saw or heard.
The duration of STM seems to be between 15and 30 seconds, and the capacity about 7 items. The
Magic number 7 (plus or minus two) provides evidence for the capacity of short term memory. Most
adults can store between 5 and9 items in their short-term memory. This idea was put forward by
Miller (1956) and he calledit the magic number. Baddeley and Hitch (1974) have developed an
alternative model of short-term memory which they call working memory. Theoretically, the
capacity of long-termmemory could be unlimited, the main constraint on recall being accessibility
rather thanavailability. Duration might be a few minutes or a lifetime. One of the earliest and most
influential distinctions of long-term memory was proposed by Tulving (1972). He proposed
adistinction between episodic, semantic and procedural memory. Procedural memory is a partof the
long-term memory is responsible for knowing how to do things, i.e. memory of motorskills. Semantic
memory is a part of the long-term memory responsible for storing informationabout the world. This
includes knowledge about the meaning of words, as well as generalknowledge. Episodic memory is a
part of the long-term memory responsible for storinginformation about events (i.e. episodes) that
we have experienced in our lives. It involvesconscious thought and is declarative. An example would
be a memory of first day at school.The psychiatrists, neurologists and clinical psychologists working
in India have long felt theneed for a short simple, objective and valid test of memory. Such a battery
of memory test isP.G.I. Memory Scale and it was constructed and standardized in 1977. The scale
was
developed by Dwarka Prasad and N.N. Wig. It contains ten subtests: 1) Remote memory, 2) Recentm
emory, 3) Mental balance, 4) Attention concentration, 5) Delayed recall, 6) Immediate recall,7)
Retention for similar pairs 8) Retention for dissimilar pairs, 9) Visual retention and 10)Recognition.
While constructing memory scale, efforts were made to ensure that it was notunduly dependent on
intelligence and was equally valid for both sexes and applicable andacceptable to illiterate and
unsophisticated subjects who constituted majority of subjects inIndian hospitals and clinics.
