STM

• Short-term Memory (STM)


  A memory system with limited storage capacity in which information is retained for a relatively short time unless renewed
• When you pay attention to the information in your sensory memory, the information enters your STM
• Function of STM


  Holds all the information you are consciously aware of at any moment in time, including conscious learning, perceiving, feeling, and thinking
• All information disappears from STM if it is not renewed in some way
• Maintenance Rehearsal


  A commonly used method of renewal that can allow info to last up to 30 seconds
• Capacity of STM


  Very limited storage capacity, can hold plus or minus seven ‘bits’ of information
• Seven bits of information plus/minus 7, so either 5 or 9 bits of information
• We were able to recall more sequences when there were separate grouped bits of information together
• Chunking


  Grouping information into larger units or ‘chunks’ of information
• Space in your STM is also filled when we think and when information is temporally retrieved from LTM to be used
• Information loss in STM

  Lost primarily through decay and displacement
• Decay


  Occurs when information is not renewed and fades away over time
• Displacement


  Pushed out because new information is causing your STM capacity to be exceeded