short term vs working memory

3 min read 29-09-2024

In the fields of psychology and neuroscience, the concepts of short-term memory and working memory are often discussed, but many people may not fully grasp the differences between the two. In this article, we will explore these two types of memory, analyze their unique characteristics, and discuss their implications in everyday life.

What is Short Term Memory?

Short-term memory (STM) refers to the system responsible for temporarily holding a small amount of information for a brief duration, typically around 15 to 30 seconds. It is the mental workspace that allows us to retain information long enough to process or act on it. For example, if you were to memorize a phone number before dialing it, you would be using short-term memory.

Key Characteristics of Short Term Memory

Capacity: The average capacity of short-term memory is about 7 ± 2 items, a phenomenon identified by psychologist George A. Miller in his classic paper, "The Magical Number Seven, Plus or Minus Two." This suggests that our STM can hold between 5 and 9 pieces of information at a time.
Duration: Information in short-term memory decays rapidly, usually within 15-30 seconds if not rehearsed or encoded into long-term memory.
Encoding: STM primarily uses acoustic encoding, meaning that we tend to remember sounds and verbal information more easily.

What is Working Memory?

Working memory (WM), a concept developed by psychologists Alan Baddeley and Graham Hitch in the 1970s, is a more complex system that not only stores information but also manipulates it. It serves as a mental workspace where we can actively process and utilize information for tasks such as reasoning, comprehension, and learning.

Key Characteristics of Working Memory

Components: Baddeley’s model of working memory includes the central executive, phonological loop, visuo-spatial sketchpad, and episodic buffer. Each component plays a unique role in how we process and manipulate information.
Capacity: Working memory can hold similar amounts of information as short-term memory; however, the focus is not just on holding but also on processing the information actively.
Duration: Like short-term memory, working memory has limited duration, but because it involves active processing, it can extend the effective use of information by integrating it with existing knowledge.

Practical Examples: Short Term vs. Working Memory

To illustrate the differences, consider the following practical examples:

Remembering a Phone Number: When you hear a phone number and quickly jot it down, you're using short-term memory. You're holding the number in your mind just long enough to encode it onto paper.
Solving a Math Problem: When performing mental arithmetic, like calculating 23 × 17, you're using working memory. You hold numbers in mind while you manipulate and transform them to arrive at the final answer.

Why Understanding the Difference Matters

Understanding the differences between short-term and working memory can have profound implications in various fields such as education, psychology, and cognitive rehabilitation. For instance, educators can design learning activities that leverage working memory to enhance comprehension and retention.

Implications for Learning and Memory Enhancement

Chunking Information: To improve short-term memory performance, you can utilize chunking, which involves grouping information into larger, meaningful units (e.g., breaking a long sequence of numbers into smaller groups).
Active Engagement: Engaging in activities that require manipulation of information—such as summarizing text or discussing ideas—can enhance working memory capacity and overall learning outcomes.

Conclusion

In summary, while short-term memory and working memory may seem similar at first glance, they serve distinct functions in our cognitive processes. By understanding these differences, we can tailor our approaches to learning and information retention in more effective ways.

If you're interested in further exploring these concepts, I recommend checking scholarly resources and papers available on platforms like Academia.edu, where researchers delve deeper into these fascinating topics.

References

Baddeley, A. D., & Hitch, G. J. (1974). Working memory. In G. A. Bower (Ed.), The psychology of learning and motivation (Vol. 8, pp. 47-89). Academic Press.
Miller, G. A. (1956). The magical number seven, plus or minus two: Some limits on our capacity for processing information. Psychological Review, 63(2), 81-97.

By presenting the differences and implications of short-term and working memory, this article aims to provide readers with a clearer understanding of how these cognitive functions operate in our daily lives.