6, SHORT TERM MEMORY- COG-PSY

Memory

process by which information is retained for later use

Sensory memory

Holds information very briefly (about 0.5-2 seconds) and is modality specific (iconic and echoic stores).

What is an example of sensory memory?

Not remembering every TikTok scroll that passes.

Short-term memory stores

Have extremely limited capacity (Miller's 7±2 bits) and are quite fragile as distractions cause immediate forgetting.

Long-term memory stores

Could be permanent and unlimited.

Memory span

The longest list of items that a person can repeat back in correct order immediately after presentation.

Chunking

A method suggested by Miller in which single items can be grouped into higher-level units of organization, improving memory retention.

Chunking example

cnnibmmtvusa can be chunked into cnn ibm mtv usa.

How reliable is short-term memory without rehearsal/chunking?

It is only reliable for 3-5 seconds.

IQ

Does not equal how much you can remember.

Alzheimer's memory impairment

80% of people with Alzheimer's have significant short-term memory impairments two years before symptoms appear.

George Miller suggested that people can keep only about __ items in their short term memory

7 plus or minus 2

advantages of having a STM?

presents cognitive overload and prevents attention problems

Working Memory

form of STM where ideas or thoughts are currently activated and being thought about.

Central executive

acts as a supervisory system.
controls the flow of information to/from its slave systems are short-term storage

slave systems

verbal and visuospatial

influences on WM

dopamine, stress, and cognitive exercise

Braddeley Hitch parts

two distinct storage buffers = phonological loop and visuospatial scratchpad, central executive the controller

dopamine

neurotransmitter involved in working memory

serial position

recall accuracy varies as a function of an item's position within a study list