Short Term Memory

 Atkinson’s and Shiffrin’s (1968) multi-store model.

Introduction

          Short term memory is a kind of information relay system found between sensory memory and long term memory. The information that had entered sensory memory now by virtue of attention travels to next memory system, called STM. STM is a memory system in which information is held for brief periods of time while being used (Ciccarelli & Meyer, 2016). STM is a active system which not only store information alos processes it for use.

The capacity of STM is 7±2 items. This was stated by George Miller in 1956. He used digit span test to arrive at this number and called it Magic Number. However, chunking is used for recording, storing and reorganizing more information in STM. According to Baddeley and Hitch (1974) Model, STM contains three interrelated systems i.e.

- Central Executive – Regulate, control and coordinate the all systems of STM such as allocation of information to respective systems. It can be called as cognitive controller. Helps in mental arithmetic and problem solving.       

- Visuo-spatial Sketch pad – Also known as inner eye that stores and process visual information.

- Phonological Loop – Also known as inner ear that helps in storing and processing audio information. It plays the dialogue in person’s head. It further contains two subsystems i.e. Articulatory control (Speech production) and phonological store (Speech perception).

Characteristics

1.       Short term memory is also known as working memory

2.       The short term memory or short term storage system is the basic component of our cognition. The information that has passed through the sensory store reaches short term memory. In this system the information tends to disappear completely in a short duration i.e. within 12 to 30 seconds.

3.       STM only holds the information does not manipulate it. 

4.       Short term functions are susceptible for interruptions while long term functions seems to remain intact (Solso, 2006).

5.       A phenomenon of Interference (information more than 5 to 9 items is thrown out to make room for new information) is found in STM.

6.       Primacy & Recency phenomenon, commonly known as Recency effect is found in STM.

References:

1.       NCERT, XI Psychology Text book.

2.       McLeod, S. A. (2009, Dec 14). Short-term memory. Simply psychology: https://www. simplypsychology.org/short-term-memory.html.

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