Memory as a process.

According to the modal model of memory, the differences between LTM and STM are “that STM holds a relatively small amount of information for a relatively short period of time. LTM, according to the model, is essentially unlimited in capacity and has a very long duration” (Atkinson & Shiffrin, 1968). At first when thinking of short term and long term memory, it seems pretty clear to me, I mean the names of each are pretty self-explanatory right? The two basic guidelines involved that come to mind as the distinguishing factors are that STM lasts for a brief period of time (15 to 30 seconds to be more precise) and LTM lasts for years. However, as we have now learned there is much more to STM and LTM than that.

While exercising I thought about what I was going to write for this assignment. The major topics of STM and LTM came to mind and I thought well, what is there to really write about one type of memory last longer than the other that pretty much sums it up. Then I thought well, I need to think of how they are in correlation with each other, what about them systematically makes them different from one another because if they are both considered forms of memory, they must function in relation to each other somehow although while differing from each other. While reviewing the lesson I thought about other major differences in STM and LTM, one being how they are encoded (STM being acoustic/visual and LTM being semantic), and another is how our LTM affects our STM/working memory.

For example, when my boyfriend tells me that he went with his dad to visit his grandpa as they do from time to time, my STM and LTM are processing this statement as a system. First, I perceive the actual statement and what it means in itself (I visualize them going to visit his grandpa). Then, my memory quickly links this statement to remembering where his grandpa lives (in an assisted living facility), then I recall his not so good health and many doctor visits my boyfriend has told me about, then I think of how I have interacted personally with his grandpa and how his health seemed to me during the few visits where I had spent time around him.

Working memory refers to the process and organization used for temporary storage and manipulation of information. Short-term memory, while directly related to working memory, refers to the temporary storage of information, and it does not include the actual manipulation, processing, or organization of memory material (McLeod, 2007). Long-term memory (LTM) is the final stage of the modal model of memory in which information can be stored for much longer periods of time (Atkinson & Shiffrin, 1968). While short-term and working memory exists for up to 30 seconds, information can remain in LTM indefinitely. A good comparison to long-term memory is the name reference memory, because an individual must refer to the information in long-term memory when performing almost any task or applying any thought or response into a conversation or concept (McLeod, 2007).

References:
Atkinson, R. C., & Shiffrin, R. M. (1968). Human memory: A proposed system and its control processes. The Psychology of Learning and Motivation, 2, 89-195.

McLeod, S. A. (2007). Stages of Memory – Encoding Storage and Retrieval. Retrieved from http://www.simplypsychology.org/memory.html

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