Chapter 5 Short Term and Working Memory

Summary

This script delves into the intricacies of short-term and working memory, highlighting the Atkinson and Shiffrin model of memory systems. It explains sensory memory's brief retention and the importance of rehearsal for information transfer to short-term memory, which can hold 5-9 pieces of information for about 20 seconds. The script also discusses strategies to enhance memorability, the concept of chunking, and the components of working memory, including the phonological loop, visual spatial sketch pad, and central executive. It emphasizes the active role of working memory in complex tasks and its connection to the prefrontal cortex, concluding with insights on individual capacity differences in working memory.

Takeaways

• 🧠 Memory involves any process that allows us to retain, retrieve, or use information from our senses like sight, smell, touch, taste, and hearing.
• 🔁 Atkinson and Shiffrin's model from 1968 describes three parts of the memory system: sensory memory, short-term memory, and long-term memory.
• 👀 Sensory memory is the initial stage that holds information for a few seconds before it potentially transfers to short-term memory.
• 🕒 Short-term memory can hold about 5 to 9 pieces of information for approximately 15 to 20 seconds and requires rehearsal to transfer information to long-term memory.
• 🔑 Long-term memory can store information for potentially infinite amounts of time and is influenced by active control processes like rehearsal and mnemonic strategies.
• 👁️ Iconic memory refers to visual perception and echoic memory to auditory perception, both part of sensory memory.
• 🔢 Short-term memory's capacity is limited, typically remembering about 5 to 8 items, with digits often being easier to remember than letters due to chunking.
• 🔄 Chunking is a method of grouping small units of information into larger, meaningful parts to enhance memory retention.
• 🤔 Working memory is the system for temporary storage and manipulation of information, crucial for complex tasks like comprehension, learning, and reasoning.
• 🔄 The phonological loop and the visual-spatial sketchpad are components of working memory that handle different types of information.
• 🧠 The central executive is the part of the brain that controls attention, focus, and suppression of irrelevant information in working memory.
• 🧬 Research indicates that the prefrontal cortex is responsible for executive functioning and processing of visual and auditory information in working memory.

Q & A

What are the three components of the memory system according to Atkinson and Shiffrin's model?

The three components are sensory memory, short-term memory, and long-term memory. Sensory memory is the initial stage for all sensory input, short-term memory holds information briefly, and long-term memory can store information for an extended period.

How long does information typically stay in sensory memory?

Information in sensory memory stays for a very brief period, typically just a few split seconds.

What is the capacity of short-term memory, and how long does it last?

Short-term memory can hold about 5 to 9 pieces of information for approximately 15 to 20 seconds.

What is the significance of rehearsal in the process of moving information from short-term to long-term memory?

Rehearsal is a critical process that helps encode information from short-term memory to long-term memory by repeating the information, thus aiding in its retention.

What are the two types of memory associated with sensory memory, and what do they represent?

Iconic memory represents visual perception and is involved in remembering images, while echoic memory is associated with auditory perception and retains information about sounds.

What is the concept of chunking in the context of memory, and how does it help in remembering information?

Chunking is the process of combining small units of information into larger, more meaningful units, which can help in remembering longer strings of information by making it more manageable.

How does the capacity of working memory differ from that of short-term memory?

Working memory is a more complex system designed for temporary storage and manipulation of information for complex tasks, whereas short-term memory is limited to holding information briefly without manipulation.

What is the role of the phonological loop in working memory?

The phonological loop is responsible for holding and manipulating verbal and acoustic information, and it can be affected by the similarity of sounds and the length of words.

What is the function of the visual spatial sketch pad in working memory?

The visual spatial sketch pad allows for the creation and manipulation of visual and spatial information in the mind, even in the absence of a physical stimulus.

What is the central executive in working memory, and how does it contribute to cognitive tasks?

The central executive is the part of the working memory responsible for controlling attention, focus, and the suppression of irrelevant information, and it plays a key role in tasks like comprehension, learning, and reasoning.

How does the prefrontal cortex relate to working memory and executive functioning?

The prefrontal cortex is involved in executive functioning and the processing of visual and auditory information, playing a crucial role in the capacity to engage in complex cognitive tasks and maintain information in working memory.