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STM

Regarding Short term memory

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Akanksha Sharma
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18 views

STM

Regarding Short term memory

Uploaded by

Akanksha Sharma
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as TXT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Short-term memory is a component of memory that holds a small amount of information

in an active, readily available state for a brief period, typically a few seconds
to a minute. The duration of STM seems to be between 15 and 30 seconds, and STM’s
capacity is limited, often thought to be about 7±2 items.
It’s often likened to the brain’s “working space,” enabling tasks like reasoning
and language comprehension. Information not rehearsed or processed can quickly be
forgotten.
Short-term memory (STM) is the second stage of the multi-store memory model
proposed by Atkinson-Shiffrin.

Short-term memory has three key aspects:

1. Limited capacity (only about 7 items can be stored at a time)


2. Limited duration (storage is very fragile, and information can be lost
with distraction or the passage of time)
3. Encoding (primarily acoustic, even translating visual information into
sounds).

Capacity: Magic Number 7


The capacity of short-term memory is limited. A classic theory proposed by George
Miller (1956) suggests that the average number of objects an individual can hold in
their short-term memory is about seven (plus or minus 2 items).
Miller thought that short-term memory could hold 7 (plus or minus 2 items) because
it only had a certain number of “slots” to store items.
However, Miller didn’t specify how much information can be held in each slot.
Indeed, if we can “chunk” information together, we can store much more information
in our short-term memory. He found out that people find it easier to recall numbers
rather than letters. The average span for letters was 7.3, and for numbers, it was
9.3.

However, the nature of the items (e.g., simple versus complex) and individual
differences can influence this capacity.
It’s also worth noting that techniques like chunking can help increase the
effective capacity by grouping individual pieces of information into larger units.

Duration
Short-term memory typically holds information for about 15 to 30 seconds. However,
the duration can be extended through rehearsal (repeating the information).
The duration of short-term memory seems to be between 15 and 30 seconds, according
to Atkinson and Shiffrin (1971). Items can be kept in short-term memory by
repeating them verbally (acoustic encoding), a process known as rehearsal.
Using a technique called the Brown-Peterson technique, which prevents the
possibility of retrieval by having participants count backward in 3s.

Encoding
Encoding in short-term memory primarily involves a transient representation of
information, usually based on the sensory attributes of the input. Here’s a
breakdown of how encoding works for short-term memory:
1. Acoustic Encoding: This is the most common form of encoding in short-
term memory. Information, especially verbal information, is often stored based on
its sound. This is why, when trying to remember a phone number, you might repeat it
aloud or “hear” it in your mind.
2. Visual Encoding: Visual encoding is the process of storing visual
images. For example, if you glance at a picture briefly and then try to recall
details about it a few moments later, you’re relying on visual encoding.
3. Semantic Encoding: This involves processing the meaning of information.
Although it plays a more dominant role in long-term memory encoding, there are
short-term tasks where meaning can influence memory (e.g., remembering words that
form a coherent sentence vs. a random list).
4. Tactile Encoding: Information can also be encoded based on touch,
though this is less common than acoustic or visual encoding for short-term memory
tasks.

Various factors, including attention, repetition, and the nature of the


information, can influence the effectiveness of encoding in short-term memory.
However, without further processing, the data held in short-term memory can decay
or be displaced, emphasizing the transient nature of this memory store.
More durable and elaborate encoding methods, such as deep processing or the
formation of associations, are needed to move information from short-term to long-
term memory.

Short-term memory and working memory are not the same, although they are closely
related concepts. Short-term memory refers to the temporary storage of information,
holding it for a brief period of time.
Working memory, on the other hand, involves not just storing, but also manipulating
and processing this information. It’s like the brain’s “workspace” for cognitive
tasks, such as problem-solving, reasoning, and comprehension.
Working memory is a more dynamic and complex system than mere short-term storage.

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