Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is the primary function of short-term memory (STM), and what is its capacity?
What is the primary function of short-term memory (STM), and what is its capacity?
The primary function of STM is to temporarily hold and manipulate information for cognitive tasks, and it has a limited capacity of 7 ± 2 chunks of information.
What are the two primary characteristics of information in short-term memory?
What are the two primary characteristics of information in short-term memory?
Information in STM is readily accessible but easily forgotten unless rehearsed or consolidated into long-term memory, and it has a limited capacity.
Distinguish between sensory memory and working memory, two subsets of short-term memory.
Distinguish between sensory memory and working memory, two subsets of short-term memory.
Sensory memory is a brief storage of sensory information in sensory buffers, whereas working memory involves the manipulation and processing of information.
Compare and contrast the Atkinson-Shiffrin Model and the Levels of Processing Model of short-term memory.
Compare and contrast the Atkinson-Shiffrin Model and the Levels of Processing Model of short-term memory.
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How does attention affect short-term memory performance, and what are the implications?
How does attention affect short-term memory performance, and what are the implications?
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Discuss the effects of aging on short-term memory capacity and duration.
Discuss the effects of aging on short-term memory capacity and duration.
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What are the implications of individual differences in short-term memory capacity?
What are the implications of individual differences in short-term memory capacity?
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Explain how chunking can improve short-term memory capacity.
Explain how chunking can improve short-term memory capacity.
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What role does rehearsal play in the consolidation of information from short-term to long-term memory?
What role does rehearsal play in the consolidation of information from short-term to long-term memory?
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Study Notes
Definition and Function
- Short-term memory (STM) is a volatile memory system that temporarily holds and manipulates information for cognitive tasks.
- STM is a limited-capacity system that can hold 7 ± 2 chunks of information for a short period ( seconds to minutes).
Characteristics
- Information in STM is readily accessible but easily forgotten unless rehearsed or consolidated into long-term memory.
- STM has a limited capacity, which can be improved through chunking (organizing information into smaller groups).
- Information in STM is temporary and can be displaced by new information.
Types of Short-Term Memory
- Sensory Memory: brief storage of sensory information in sensory buffers (e.g., visual, auditory).
- Working Memory: a subset of STM that involves manipulation and processing of information (e.g., mental arithmetic).
Models of Short-Term Memory
- Atkinson-Shiffrin Model: proposes that information first enters STM and then can be transferred to long-term memory through rehearsal.
- Levels of Processing Model: suggests that information is processed in STM based on its meaning, leading to better retention.
Factors Affecting Short-Term Memory
- Attention: focused attention can improve STM performance.
- Distractions: divided attention can impair STM performance.
- Aging: STM capacity and duration decline with age.
- Individual Differences: STM capacity can vary significantly between individuals.
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Description
Understand the concept of Short-Term Memory (STM), its limitations, and its sub-types. Learn about the models and factors that affect STM, including attention, distractions, and individual differences.
