Short Term Memory - PSYC 224 - Exam II

Digit-Span Test

test for measuring the capacity of short term memory:

hear a set of numbers and repeat them back after a short delay - ~7

Chunking

the brain can handle 7 pieces of information, regardless of size so long as they make relative logical sense

Rehearsal

verbal or mental repetition of a word to keep it in working memory without necessarily committing to long-term memory

Decay

loss of opportunity to encode words that were held in short-term memory

Serial Position Curve

we have a better memory for items at the beginning and end of a list of words

Primacy

better memory retrieval for items at beginning of list because of increased opportunity to rehearse

Recency

better memory for items at the end of a list because of decreased time for decay

Definition: Proactive Interference

previously stored information interfering with newly encoded information

Release Method: Proactive Interference

resetting interference by introducing a list of a new category

Retroactive Interference

new information overwrites old information in memory (“replacing the file”)

Word Length Effect

increased decay rate for lists with longer words because the pronunciation time (indicates sound-based representations cognitively)

Working Memory

where information is actively being processed, manipulated and analyzed before decaying or being committed to long-term memory

Central Executive

coordinates which store sensory information will be sent to; functions similar to an attentional process

Phonological Loop / Store

where speech-like information is silently processed and rehearsed

Visuo-Spatial Sketchpad

where spatial information is processed and rehearsed

Pattern-Span Task

spatial edition to a digit-span task, using colored-grids similar to the Simon game