Examination and Disturbance of Short-Term Memory (MSE)

1. Overview & The Memory Taxonomy

Memory = the function by which information registered in the brain is stored and later recalled to consciousness. The Debrecen lectures (Dr. Gajdos) describe memory as a three-stage process:

1. Imprinting / registration (encoding) — requires intact attention and consciousness.
2. Storing / retention (consolidation).
3. Recalling / retrieval.

Memory is characterised by capacity, durability, and accuracy. A defect at any stage produces a different clinical picture, so the examiner expects you to localise the problem (encoding vs. retention vs. retrieval).

The hierarchy of memory stores (immediate → short-term → long-t