2.2.1 Short-Term Memory

• What is Short-Term Memory (STM)?

  A temporary storage system
• Information remains in STM for approximately 15 to 30 seconds without rehearsal.
• What is the capacity of STM?

  7 ± 2 items
• STM primarily uses auditory encoding
• Compared to LTM, STM has a much shorter duration and a smaller capacity.
• How long does information remain in STM without rehearsal?

  15-30 seconds
• Visual and semantic encoding can also occur in STM
• STM has a larger capacity than LTM.

  False
• What does the capacity of STM refer to?

  Number of items held
• STM can hold approximately 7 ± 2 items.
• Match the feature with the correct memory system:

  Limited capacity ↔️ Short-Term Memory (STM)

  Unlimited capacity ↔️ Long-Term Memory (LTM)
• The duration of STM without rehearsal is 15-30 seconds.
• What is the duration of STM compared to LTM?

  Shorter
• The capacity of STM is smaller than that of LTM.
• The encoding method in LTM is primarily semantic.
• What are the three main characteristics of STM?

  Duration, capacity, encoding
• What is the duration of Short-Term Memory (STM) without rehearsal?

  15-30 seconds
• The capacity of STM is approximately 7 ± 2 items.
• The encoding method of STM is primarily auditory.
• Order the three primary types of coding in STM:

  1️⃣ Auditory Encoding

  2️⃣ Visual Encoding

  3️⃣ Semantic Encoding
• Auditory encoding in STM retains information based on the sounds of words or phrases.
• Recalling a phone number after hearing it is an example of auditory encoding in STM.
• What type of encoding is used when recalling the layout of a map?

  Visual
• Understanding and remembering key ideas from a paragraph is an example of semantic encoding in STM.
• STM primarily uses auditory encoding, but can also use visual or semantic coding.
• What type of encoding retains information based on the sounds of words or phrases?

  Auditory encoding
• What type of encoding retains information based on images or visual patterns?

  Visual encoding
• What type of encoding retains information based on the meaning of words or concepts?

  Semantic encoding
• Short-term memory primarily uses auditory encoding, but it can also leverage visual or semantic coding
• Auditory encoding in STM retains information based on the sounds of words or phrases.
• Visual encoding in STM retains information based on images or visual patterns.
• Functions of Short-Term Memory in cognitive processes

  1️⃣ Holding information

  2️⃣ Processing information
• STM retains information for a short duration of approximately 15-30 seconds.
• What cognitive tasks does STM facilitate by processing information?

  Attention, language comprehension, problem-solving
• STM temporarily retains sensory and processed data while LTM stores information indefinitely.
• LTM supports active cognitive tasks while STM serves as a knowledge base for long-term decision making.

  False
• How does STM handle attention compared to LTM?

  Focuses on current stimuli
• Short-Term Memory is a key component of the multi-store model of memory.
• What is the duration of information in STM without rehearsal?

  15-30 seconds
• What is the capacity of STM in terms of items it can hold?

  5-9 items