Short-term memory (STM)
Short-term memory (STM) is the limited-capacity, temporary memory store holding small amounts of information for brief periods
Short-term memory (STM) is what is known as a limited capacity store, because it can only contain a certain number of what before what takes place?
Short-term memory (STM) is what is known as a limited capacity store, because it can only contain a certain number of ‘things’ before forgetting takes place
What is the capacity of the short-term memory (STM)?
The capacity of the short-term memory (STM) is, on average, somewhere between 5 and 9 items of information (7 + or - 2)
When does maintenance rehearsal occur?
Maintenance rehearsal occurs when we repeat (rehearse) material to ourselves over and over again
Maintenance rehearsal occurs when we repeat (rehearse) material to ourselves over and over again.
We can keep the information in our short-term memories as long as we do what?
We can keep the information in our short-term memories as long as we rehearse it
Maintenance rehearsal occurs when we repeat (rehearse) material to ourselves over and over again.
We can keep the information in our short-term memories as long as we rehearse it.
If we rehearse it long enough, it does what?
If we rehearse it long enough, it passes into our long-term memory (LTM)
STM temporarily stores information received from the sensory memory.
It is a what memory system?
STM is an active (changing) memory system
STM temporarily stores information received from the sensory memory.
STM is an active (changing) memory system, because it contains information that is what?
STM is an active (changing) memory system, because it contains information that is currently being thought about
STM temporarily stores information received from the sensory memory.
STM is an active (changing) memory system, because it contains information that is currently being thought about.
STM differs from LTM especially in terms of what?
STM differs from LTM especially in terms of:
- Coding, capacity and duration
- How information is forgotten
Coding in the short-term memory (STM):
Information arrives from the sensory memory in its what form?
Information arrives from the sensory memory in its original, raw form
Coding in the short-term memory (STM):
Information arrives from the sensory memory in its original, raw form, such as in sound or vision, and is then encoded (entered into STM) in a form that the STM can more easily do what with?
Information arrives from the sensory memory in its original, raw form, such as in:
1. Sound
Or,
2. Vision
,and is then encoded (entered into STM) in a form that the STM can more easily deal with
Coding in the short-term memory (STM):
Information arrives from the sensory memory in its original, raw form, such as in sound or vision, and is then encoded (entered into STM) in a form that the STM can more easily deal with.
For example, if the input into the sensory memory was the word ‘platypus,’ this could be coded into STM in several ways:
Visually, by thinking of the image of a platypus.
Acoustically, by repeatedly saying ‘platypus.’
Semantically (through meaning), by using knowledge of platypuses.
Research suggests that the main form of coding in STM is what?
Research suggests that the main form of coding in STM is acoustic (by sound)
Coding in the short-term memory (STM):
Information arrives from the sensory memory in its original, raw form, such as in sound or vision, and is then encoded (entered into STM) in a form that the STM can more easily deal with.
For example, if the input into the sensory memory was the word ‘platypus,’ this could be coded into STM in several ways:
Visually, by thinking of the image of a platypus.
Acoustically, by repeatedly saying ‘platypus.’
Semantically (through meaning), by using knowledge of platypuses.
Research suggests that the main form of coding in STM is acoustic (by sound), but what exist, too?
Research suggests that the main form of coding in STM is acoustic (by sound), but other codes exist, too
STM has a limited capacity, because only a small amount of information is held in the store.
Research indicates that between 5 and 9 items can be held, though capacity is increased by what?
Research indicates that between 5 and 9 items can be held, though capacity is increased by chunking
Chunking
Chunking is a method of increasing STM capacity by grouping information into larger:
1. Units
Or,
2. Chunks
The duration of the STM:
The amount of time information remains within STM without being lost is limited to a maximum of what?
The amount of time information remains within STM without being lost is limited to a maximum of about 30 seconds
The duration of the STM:
The amount of time information remains within STM without being lost is limited to a maximum of about 30 seconds.
This can be extended by what of the information?
This can be extended by rehearsal (repetition) of the information
The duration of the STM:
The amount of time information remains within STM without being lost is limited to a maximum of about 30 seconds.
This can be extended by rehearsal (repetition) of the information, which if done long enough will result in transfer of the information into LTM, where it will become a more what feature?
This can be extended by rehearsal (repetition) of the information, which if done long enough will result in transfer of the information into LTM, where it will become a more long-lasting feature
Research for capacity of the STM:
There may be what differences in STM capacity?
There may be individual differences in STM capacity
The duration of the STM:
The amount of time information remains within STM without being lost is limited to a maximum of about 30 seconds.
This can be extended by rehearsal (repetition) of the information, which if done long enough will result in transfer of the information into LTM, where it will become a more long-lasting feature.
The duration of STM is between about how many seconds?
The duration of STM is between about:
1. 18
2. 30
seconds
Research for duration of the STM:
One explanation for why we forget things in STM is spontaneous decay.
What is sponaneous decay?
Spontaneous decay is that the memory trace simply disappears if not rehearsed
Research for duration of the STM:
There is little research evidence considering what?
There is little research evidence considering the STM duration of other forms of stimuli
Research for duration of the STM:
There is little research evidence considering the STM duration of other forms of stimuli, like what?
There is little research evidence considering the STM duration of other forms of stimuli, like visual images
Acoustically
Acoustically is realting to:
1. Sound
Or,
2. The sense of hearing