Short term memory

• What is STM?

  short term memory
• what type of memory system is the STM?

  an active memory system
• what does the STM contain?

  the information that is currently being thought about through the cognitive process

  this means it is a place for temporary storage of information received from the sensory memory or retrieved from the LTM
• What are the 3 main functions of the STM?

  1. Provides the performer with a "working memory" to process current information
  2. Largely responsible for the cognitive process of thinking, problem-solving and decision-making

  (THEREFORE it needs to retrieve information from the LTM and the sensory memory to do this)

  3. Combines the above functions to decide which information will then be forwarded to long-term storage for future reference

  THEREFORE STM IS THE CENTRE OF ACTIVITY IN INFORMATION-PROCESSING
• what is short term memory the centre of?

  activity in information-processing
• How does information come into the STM?

  From.........

  1. The short-term sensory store
  2. The long-term memory (LTM)
• What is coding for the STM?

  Mainly acoustic
• what is the capacity of the STM?

  7 +/- 2 items
• what is the duration of the STM?

  up to 20-30 seconds maximum