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.

Outlines

00:00

🧠 Understanding Memory Systems

This paragraph delves into the concept of memory, highlighting its role in retaining, retrieving, and using information from various stimuli. It introduces the Atkinson and Shiffrin model of memory, which consists of sensory memory, short-term memory, and long-term memory. Sensory memory is the initial stage, holding information briefly before it potentially moves to short-term memory, which can hold about 5 to 9 pieces of information for 15 to 20 seconds. Rehearsal and repetition are key for information to be encoded into long-term memory, which can store data indefinitely. The paragraph also touches on control processes like note cards and mnemonic devices to aid memorization and mentions iconic and echoic memories as part of sensory memory.

05:01

📚 Short-Term Memory and Working Memory

The second paragraph focuses on the specifics of short-term memory, which retains small amounts of information for a short period, typically 15 to 30 seconds. It discusses the capacity of short-term memory, the phenomenon of chunking, and how it can be enhanced through training, as demonstrated in a study by Ericsson and colleagues. The paragraph also explains working memory as a system for temporary storage and manipulation of information, necessary for complex tasks. It describes the phonological loop, articulatory suppression, the visual spatial sketch pad, and the central executive, which are components of working memory, and their roles in maintaining attention and suppressing irrelevant information.

10:01

🔬 Research Insights into Working Memory

This paragraph presents research studies that provide insights into the capacity and functioning of working memory. It discusses the role of the prefrontal cortex in executive functioning and the importance of neural activity for information retention. The paragraph highlights how the brain's neural networks can be influenced by short-term information storage and how the synaptic state strengthens connections between neurons even after the firing ceases. It also references a study by Vogel and colleagues that examined individual capacity in working memory, showing that high-capacity individuals were more efficient at ignoring distractors, thus outperforming those with lower capacity.

Keywords

💡Memory

Memory is a cognitive process that allows individuals to retain, retrieve, or use information. It is central to the video's theme as it encompasses various types of sensory inputs and experiences that are stored over time. The script discusses different models of memory, including sensory, short-term, and long-term memory, illustrating how they function and interact.

💡Sensory Memory

Sensory memory is the initial stage of memory processing where all sensory inputs are briefly held. It is crucial as it filters the vast amount of information we receive through our senses. The video script mentions that sensory memory only lasts for a few seconds and then information either decays or is transferred to short-term memory, exemplified by the persistence of vision concept.

💡Short-term Memory

Short-term memory, also known as working memory, is where information is held for a brief period, typically 15 to 30 seconds. The script explains that it can hold about 5 to 9 pieces of information and requires rehearsal to transfer information to long-term memory. An example from the script is the 'chunking' method, which increases the capacity of short-term memory by organizing information into meaningful units.

💡Long-term Memory

Long-term memory is the memory system that can hold information for extended periods, even a lifetime. The video script describes it as having an 'infinite' capacity and being the result of information encoding from short-term memory. It is essential for retaining knowledge and skills over time.

💡Rehearsal

Rehearsal is the process of repeating information to move it from short-term to long-term memory. The script emphasizes its importance in the memory model by stating that without rehearsal, information in short-term memory will be lost.

💡Control Processes

Control processes are active strategies that individuals can use to manipulate information and make it more memorable. The video script discusses various techniques such as using note cards or mnemonic devices, illustrating how these strategies can aid in the retention and retrieval of information.

💡Iconic Memory

Iconic memory refers to the visual perception and retention of images briefly. The script uses the example of remembering directions based on visual cues like a building, which is an instance of iconic memory.

💡Echoic Memory

Echoic memory is the auditory equivalent of iconic memory, dealing with the retention of sounds. The script mentions recalling information heard, such as a tune or a phrase, as an example of echoic memory.

💡Chunking

Chunking is a memory technique where small pieces of information are grouped into larger, more meaningful units to enhance recall. The script cites a study where a student was trained to use chunking, significantly increasing their digit span from seven to 79 digits.

💡Working Memory

Working memory is described as the system for temporary storage and manipulation of information necessary for complex tasks. The script differentiates it from short-term memory by emphasizing its role in active thinking, learning, and reasoning, highlighting its continuous operation in cognitive processes.

💡Central Executive

The central executive is part of the working memory model that controls attention, focus, and the suppression of irrelevant information. The script explains its role in maintaining cognitive tasks and its connection with the prefrontal cortex, which is crucial for executive functioning.

💡Neural Networks

Neural networks refer to the interconnected neurons in the brain that facilitate memory and learning. The script mentions that the state of neural networks can change based on the information to be remembered, illustrating the biological basis of memory processes.

Highlights

Memory involves processes that allow us to retain, retrieve, or use information from various senses.

Memories are active and can impact our behavior based on past experiences.

Atkinson and Shiffrin's 1968 model proposes three parts of the memory system: sensory, short-term, and long-term memory.

Sensory memory holds information briefly, for a few seconds, before it decays.

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

Repetition and rehearsal are crucial for information to transfer from short-term to long-term memory.

Long-term memory can store information indefinitely, unlike short-term memory.

Control processes, such as note cards and mnemonic strategies, help make information more memorable.

Persistence of vision is the retention of light perception, like trailing light from a moving object.

Iconic and echoic memories are specific to visual and auditory perceptions, respectively.

Short-term memory's capacity is limited, typically remembering 5-8 items, with better recall for numbers than letters.

Chunking information into meaningful parts can significantly increase short-term memory capacity.

Working memory is a system for temporary storage and manipulation of information for complex tasks.

The phonological loop and the visual-spatial sketchpad are components of working memory, handling auditory and visual information.

Articulatory suppression, like speaking, can reduce the memory span by preventing rehearsal of items.

The central executive controls attention, focus, and suppression of irrelevant information in working memory.

The prefrontal cortex is crucial for executive functioning and processing in working memory.

Neural activity and synaptic connections are strengthened when information is to be remembered, affecting brain structure.

Individual capacity in working memory affects the ability to ignore distractors and focus on relevant information.

Transcripts

okay so chapter five is about short-term

and working memory

so when we think about memory we have to

remember that it involves any type of

process

that allows us to retain

retrieve or use information we take in

anything we see smell touch taste here

feel can all be implanted on our memory

so that can include stimuli images

events ideas and skills

so after something has taken place it

stays with us through our memories

our memories are active at any time some

past experiences have an impact on us

and

um how we behave in the future

so when we think about the model

um there are a few different models that

come into play but Atkinson and Cher

friend came up with a

model in 1968 that said that there are

three parts of our memory system their

sensory memory which involves everything

we take in we see smile touch taste here

it's the initial stage that everything

goes into but it only stays there for a

few split seconds

and then hopefully

the information that transfers to our

short-term memory which is also going to

be very quick it's a split second you

know five to seven seconds holding

tank of information as well and it can

hold

um usually what we say seven plus or

minus two so five to nine bits or pieces

of information for about 15 to 20

seconds

and then something has to happen there

has to be some type of rehearsal there

has to be some type of repetition

something that happens something

information then encodes from short-term

memory to long-term memory long-term

memory can hold the information

for an infinite amount of time years

decades

control processes are active processes

that can be controlled by a person so

these are the things we can do ourselves

we can rehearse we can come up with

strategies that make information more

memorable to us like we can decide I

want to use note cards to study

something or I want to come up with some

type of monitor so that I remember the

information

these different strategies can help us

control and process the information help

us focus on it

when it comes to our sensory memory

we're going to retain the information

for split seconds brief periods of time

through our senses

the information we take in from our

senses will quickly Decay or Fade Away

unless something else is done and is

transferred to short-term memory

Persistence of vision is the retention

of our perception of light and it's how

we Trail light

from like a moving sparkler or in a

frame in a film

so again we take in first information

through our senses

if we want to measure the capacity and

duration of our sensory memory we can

look at how letters flash on a screen

you can report how many of them you see

there was a study done where

participants were asked to report as

many as they could see during a research

study by Stripling in 1960 and most

people averaged about four and a half

out of 12 letters that were flash on

their screen

the partial report method says that

participants heard a tone that told them

which row of letters to report

and that was about 3.3 out of four

letters

and then the delayed partial report

method found that

um

when a tone was included

um

for a fraction of a second after the

letters were extinguished their

performance decreased rapidly

within our sensory memory we also have

iconic and echoic memories iconic

memories are our memories for things we

see in our perception of vision

all right colic memories are our

memories for things we hear and our

perception of South

so if you've ever you know gotten

somewhere based on directions by oh I

remember that you turn at that building

that is your iconic memory or if you've

ever said to yourself

I don't know how I know this but I heard

it somewhere that is your echoic memory

when it comes to our short-term memories

our short-term memory stores small

amounts of information for a brief

period of time again for 15 20 maybe 30

seconds this could be information that

is new to us and received from our

senses or information that could be

recalled from long-term memory

capacity of short-term memory is

actually very short that's why it's

called short term

for most people they can remember about

five to eight items or seven plus or

minus two

um when it comes to numbers and we tend

to remember digits better than we can

remember letters and if you think about

it when we look at letters we want to

form words and we don't have that same

connection with digits

chunking occurs when we take small

amounts or units of information and we

make it into meaningful Parts sometimes

chunking the information like 492 into

492 will help us remember it

so Erickson and co-workers in 1980 did a

research study where they trained a

college student with average memory

ability to use the chunking method

that student from that research has an

initial initial digit span of about

seven

so before he had any type of training he

could remember a string of digits that

were about seven long

but then after 231 hour training

sessions the student could remember up

to

79 digits because that student was able

to chunk them into meaningful units

so this is huge research especially if

it comes to you having to know a bunch

of information if you can Chuck it

together that's going to extend your

capacity to remember

men in 2004 Alvarez and Kavanaugh did

another research study where they used

colored squares as well as complex

objects and they used to change the

detection method to see if those things

could be remembered as well

when it comes to our working memory

working memory is the limited capacity

system for temporary storage and

manipulation of information for tasks

that can be complex like comprehension

learning and reasoning it's called our

working memory because it's the memory

we use to process to learn to comprehend

to reason

it's very different from short-term

memories so whereas short-term memory is

only going to hold information for a

brief period of time your working memory

is going to try to store and process and

manipulate information so it's working

memory because it's always active as

we're thinking

so when it comes to our working memory

it's set up to be able to process

different types of information at the

same time but it struggles to work

properly when similar types of

information is presented at the same

time you can see that from the chart

there

a phonological loop is the similarity

effect which says that letters are words

that sound similar can cause confusion

there are different word length tasks

such as memorizing lists of words when

we do that it's going to be better for

short words than for long words and it's

going to take longer to rehearse long

words and for to produce them during

recall

when it comes to a phonological loop and

articulate

articulatory suppression

speaking prevents one from rehearsing

items to be remembered so that's going

to reduce your memory spray span it's

going to eliminate word links and reduce

the phonological similarity effect

when reading the words

the visual spatial sketch pad is how we

can create visual images in the mind

whenever there's no physical

stimulus there

it's how you can mentally rotate

something and still imagine how it might

look

the central executive is our

part of the brain that controls your

ability to maintain your attention focus

and

control your suppression of irrelevant

information

it's involved in perseveration which is

when you repeat something and you

perform it at the same time

or if you just can't sort of take your

mind off something the central executive

is controlling that

all right

it's also a backup store that

communicates with long-term and working

memory components it holds information

longer and has greater capacity for

phonological Loop or and the visual

spatial sketch pad so when we think

about the central executive we can think

about it as being sort of an overarching

component of long-term memory

the prefrontal cortex is responsible for

our ability to engage in executive

functioning and processing of visual and

auditory information

there have been lots of research studies

on the capacity of the prefrontal cortex

monkeys who have been studied and don't

have a prefrontal cortex often have

difficulty holding information in their

working memories

neurons in the brain

respond when the stimulus is flat

flashed in a particular location and

during delay as part of the working

memory and that information remains

available when those for those neurons

as long as they fire so the main thing

you want to know about the working

memory is that it is always working it

is always thinking it is always active

Stokes in 2015 said that information is

stored in short-term information that is

stored in the short term can change how

the brain is made up and and change

based on neural networks

an activity state is when information in

to be remembered causes neurons to Fire

and the synaptic State occurs when the

neuron stops firing

but the connections between the neurons

are strengthened

and you can see kind of what that looks

like from the picture below

so vocal and co-workers in 2005 did a

working memory study about individual

capacity and the results of their study

they had two groups at high capacity

working memory group and a low capacity

working memory group and the results of

the study show that the high capacity

participants were more efficient at

ignoring distractors and therefore they

were

more successful than low capacity than

the low capacity group because the

distractors were there and that was

taking away their ability to focus

hopefully this information will be

helpful to you in understanding

short-term and working memory