Short term & working memory Flashcards
1
Q
Define STM and state its capacity and duration
A
STM is a temporary store used to integrate incoming sensory info and existing experience and transfer it to LTM. Capactiy is 5-9 items and has a duration of 15-30 seconds
2
Q
Explain the serial position effect
A
- U shaped curve.
- Primacy effect: info at the beginning of a list are transferred to LTM as they receive more attention and rehearsal but is impacted if a concurrent task is introduced such as a repetition of a word
- Recency effect: info at the end of a list indicates info being still present in STM but is impacted if an interval is introduced
- Items in the middle decay as they are too early for STM and too late for LTM as there is little opportunity for rehearsal
