Short-Term and Working Memory Vocabulary

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers concepts related to short-term memory, working memory components, and relevant psychological effects and terminology.

Short-term memory (STM)

Temporarily stores information needed for thinking, reasoning, language, and problem-solving.

STM Characteristics

Has limited capacity and lasts about $30$ seconds without rehearsal; overload reduces learning.

Chunk

A group of related items remembered as one unit, which includes about $7$ chunks according to Miller.

Peterson & Peterson

Researchers who found that short-term memory fades within seconds without rehearsal.

Serial-position effect

A phenomenon where people remember the beginning and end of a list best.

Primacy effect

Better recall of first items in a list due to more rehearsal.

Recency effect

Better recall of last items in a list because they are still in short-term memory.

Proactive interference

A condition where old information makes it harder to learn or recall new information.

Stages of the information-processing model

Sensory Memory \rightarrow Short-Term Memory \rightarrow Long-Term Memory.

Working memory

An active system that temporarily holds and manipulates information during thinking.

Four parts of working memory

Central Executive, Phonological Loop, Visuospatial Sketchpad, and Episodic Buffer.

Central Executive

The component of working memory that directs attention, coordinates other systems, plans, and suppresses distractions.

Phonological Loop

Processes speech and sounds; it is important for reading, language, and mental math.

Acoustic confusion

A situation where similar-sounding items (e.g., B, D, G, T) are harder to remember.

Visuospatial Sketchpad

Stores and processes visual and spatial information for images and navigation.

Episodic Buffer

Combines information from working memory and long-term memory into meaningful events.

Difference between STM and working memory

STM mainly stores information while working memory actively stores and manipulates it.

ADHD effect on working memory

Often causes weaker working memory, specifically affecting the Central Executive and visuospatial skills.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

A noninvasive method that briefly disrupts activity in a specific brain region.

ERP

Event-Related Potential.