STM & WM

How a stimulus is represented by neuron firings.

How a stimulus/experience is represented in the mind.

Representing items in Short-Term Memory (STM) by their sound or appearance.

Representing items in STM based on their sound.

Representing items visually in STM.

Representing items in STM by meaning.

Decreased memory due to prior learning.

Improved memory when dealing with a new category of items.

The initial stage that briefly holds all incoming information.

A memory system holding 5-7 items for about 15-30 seconds.

A memory system with a large capacity; holds information for years or decades

Active processes we use to manage and enhance memory, such as attention and rehearsal.

The process of storing memory in long-term storage

Remembering information stored in long-term memory.

A type of sensory memory that holds visual information for ~1 second, fading rapidly.

A type of sensory memory that holds auditory information for 3–4 seconds after presentation.

Inability to store or retrieve stored information.

Experiment on the capacity and duration of sensory memory, using partial report method.

The idea that memory fades over time, becoming weaker and harder to retrieve. This happens even without interference from other information, especially when there's no attempt to rehearse the information.

A test that measures the capacity of short-term memory. Participants are asked to remember a sequence of digits, and the number of digits they can recall correctly indicates their memory span.

The process of grouping smaller units of information into larger, more meaningful units. Think of combining individual words into phrases, or phrases into sentences.

Remembering information requires both the focus of attention to create meaningful chunks and the ability to maintain those chunks in memory. You need attention to prioritize the right information and keep it 'alive' in your mind.

Memory weakens over time, especially without rehearsal.

Experts rely on chunking to remember complex chess board configurations.

The lingering perception of light in your mind, even after the real light source is gone, creating the illusion of a continuous trail.

Short-term memory (STM) holds information for a brief period, typically around 15-30 seconds.

Sensory memory acts as a buffer, collecting information from the environment, filtering it, and briefly holding it while initial processing occurs.

Distinct memory structures that are responsible for storing and retrieving different kinds of information for various lengths of time.

Active cognitive processes that help manage memory, such as rehearsal, attention, and encoding strategies.

The process of transforming information into a format that can be stored in long-term memory.

How information is represented in short-term memory (STM). Conrad found that STM uses acoustic, visual, and semantic coding.

Representing information in STM based on its meaning. This is why we often remember the meaning of words, even if we forget the exact wording.

The depth of processing that information undergoes influences how well it is remembered. Deeper processing (meaningful analysis) leads to better memory.

The type of encoding used can influence how long we remember something. Semantic encoding creates more lasting memories than just focusing on physical features.

A component of working memory responsible for processing and temporarily storing auditory information, particularly language.

A component of working memory that processes and temporarily stores visual and spatial information.

The control center of working memory, responsible for allocating attention, coordinating information flow, and retrieving information from long-term memory.

The tendency to confuse similar sounding words or letters when trying to remember them.

People remember shorter words better than longer words because shorter words require less time to rehearse and recall.

The process of saying irrelevant sounds (e.g., 'the, the, the') that interferes with rehearsal and reduces memory performance.

The process of rotating a mental image of an object in your mind.

A component of working memory that stores information from both the phonological loop and visuospatial sketch pad, and integrates it with long-term memory.

A theory suggesting that deeper processing of information leads to better memory. The type of processing (e.g., physical, acoustic, semantic) influences how well we remember.

Memory recall is better when the conditions at retrieval match the conditions at encoding. This means the context surrounding learning has a significant impact on memory.

Short-Term memory is limited in both capacity (5-7 items) and duration (around 15-30 seconds). It's primarily responsible for holding information for a short period.

Working memory is more than just storage; it actively manipulates and processes information for complex tasks like learning, reasoning, and problem-solving. It's a more dynamic version of short-term memory.

Working memory has several components. The phonological loop processes verbal and auditory information. The visuospatial sketchpad handles visual and spatial information. The central executive controls and coordinates the other components and manages attention resources.

If two tasks require the same working memory component, they can't be performed successfully together. But, if they use different components, they can often be done together without significant interference.

The phonological loop has two parts: the phonological store, which briefly holds auditory information, and the articulatory rehearsal process, which keeps information active by silently repeating it.

The visuospatial sketchpad allows us to manipulate visual information, such as mentally rotating objects, and spatial information, such as remembering the location of things. It's what helps us navigate our environment effectively.

The amount of information that can be briefly held in sensory memory. Sperling's experiments show we can hold a lot for a short time.

A technique used in Sperling's experiments where participants are cued to report only a specific part of a briefly presented visual display.

Information in sensory memory fades rapidly, making it difficult to recall after a few seconds.

Experts chunk chess pieces into meaningful groups based on their positions and relationships, aiding memory.

Memorizing involves moving information from short-term memory (STM) into long-term memory (LTM).

The part of the phonological loop that briefly holds auditory information, like a temporary storage space.

The part of the phonological loop that keeps information active by silently repeating it.

When items that sound similar are harder to remember because they get confused in the phonological store.