Short-term Memory - Memory in the here and now
Memory in the here and now (short-term memory)
Nowadays, most people have heard of the concept of short-term memory. In everyday situations we are able to quickly recall what we have just learned. Often we use this information for a short time and after that it doesn’t matter. For example, remembering we just heard tuning in a radio station or typing in a phone number.
We often joke about having a bad memory. I always forget what that person just said. I forget where I put my keys. I forgot the name of that guy. But, in fact, these things are actually short-term memory.
Another way we know that there is short-term memory vs long-term memory is when observe older people. Ever wonder why your grandparents can recall amazing events in their lives like they happened yesterday. But somehow, they forget things that have just happened.
Short-term memory doesn’t relate to when the memory was created but actually what information is currently held in your mind. The information you are currently working with. The information you a currently trying to do something with.
There are multiple type of short-term memory all with various uses.
The science of remembering a phone number
This is something that we use everyday but take for granted.
Think of all the times you have to remember a string of numbers. For example remembering a phone number. You are given a number and you have to recall it. Typically, information stored in your short-term memory is gone after 30 seconds. Ever forgotten the phone number before you have dialled it? That’s why.
One way we combat this is by rehearsing it in our heads. This usually involves looking like a crazy person randomly saying numbers as we run from one end of the room to the other.
Why does this work?
It works in two ways, it serves to keep the information in our short-term memory. This uses something called the phological loop. Like continually topping up water in a paper cup with a hole in the bottom. The other way it helps, is by slowly pushing the number into your long-term memory (but more about his later).
This technique does have a fatal flaw, though. So while you are running around looking for your phone or a pen and a paper randomly yelling out numbers like a crazed math professor, your friend asks you what time it is...there goes the phone number. This is called ‘disruption’. And it doesn’t even have to be something significant. A study has found that a person on the phone simply saying “Have a nice day” after telling you a number is enough to disrupt your short-term memory of that number! (Schilling and Weaver, 1983).
Another way we try and remember a phone number is by grouping the numbers together. Ever wonder why it is easier to remember a phone number if you do this?. Let’s use an example phone number of 0412564398. This is a random number from the top my head. Please don’t try and call it! I have know idea if/who it belongs to!
First, try and remember it like this (wait for a second or so between each number): 0…4…1…2…5…6…4…3…9….8. Hard, right?
Now try it like this: 0412…564…398. Much easier, right?
Why is this?
Well, most people can remember around 5-9 ‘chunks’ of information. By grouping the digits we turn 10 ‘chunks’ of information into just 3. Much easier.
What is it good for?
So if short-term memory is fleeting and can’t hold much, why do we have it in the first place?!
Well there are couple of useful things that it does for us.
Over the next weeks we will look into how short term memory helps us everyday.