Question

Match the type of memory with its definition: 1\. long-term memory 2\. short-term memory 3\. sensory memory a. holds information 15 to 25 seconds b. stores information on a relatively permanent basis c. direct representation of a stimulus

Short answer

1b - Long-term memory stores information on a relatively permanent basis, 2a - Short-term memory holds information 15 to 25 seconds, 3c - Sensory memory is a direct representation of a stimulus.

Step-by-step solution

Match long-term memory

Long-term memory is defined as the type of memory that stores information on a relatively permanent basis. This means it's associated with option 'b'.

Match short-term memory

Short-term memory is defined as the type of memory that holds information for a brief period of time, typically around 15 to 25 seconds. This corresponds to option 'a'.

Match sensory memory

Sensory memory is the type of memory that represents an exact copy of what is seen or heard nearly exactly as it was experienced. This defines a 'direct representation of a stimulus', hence it corresponds to option 'c'.

Key concepts

Understanding Short-Term Memory

Short-term memory plays a crucial role in our daily activities, acting as a temporary holding place for information that we are currently using or focusing on. Imagine it as a sticky note in your brain, where you jot down phone numbers or a grocery list. Typically, information here lasts for about 15 to 25 seconds and this space is limited. Short-term memory can hold about 7±2 items—think of it as the mental equivalent of a person trying to carry a handful of sand; some of it is bound to slip away.

Here's where rehearsal comes in. Repeating information helps in transferring it to long-term memory. However, without this repetition or a conscious effort to maintain the information through methods like chunking—grouping information into 'chunks' or meaningful units—it's often quickly lost. A classic example of short-term memory usage is memorization for a test; you might remember the facts for the duration of the test, but without deeper learning, it might not stick around.

Decoding Long-Term Memory

Long-term memory is like the vast library of your mind, where information is stored more permanently. Unlike short-term memory, the capacity of long-term memory is colossal, if not practically infinite. Information in long-term memory can last from minutes to an entire lifetime, depending on how the information is encoded and retrieved. It includes our skills, experiences, learning, and emotions.

But how do we ensure information stays in long-term memory? Through processes like encoding, which can entail making meaningful connections, understanding the context, or emotional attachments to the information. For example, it's often easier to remember events from your life that have emotional significance. Aiding techniques like spaced repetition and the use of mnemonic devices can enhance the durability and accessibility of information in long-term memory. The magic of long-term memory is its ability to connect dots, enabling us to solve problems and generate new ideas by linking new information with existing knowledge.

Exploring Sensory Memory

Sensory memory is your brain's first stop for incoming information through the senses. It acts as a buffer for stimuli received through the five senses and is exceptionally short-lived, typically lasting less than a second. Its purpose is to give your brain a snapshot of your surroundings, allowing it to decide which pieces of information are important enough to pay attention to and process further.

Sensory memory can be broken down into multiple types based on the sense involved—iconic memory for visual stimuli, echoic memory for auditory stimuli, and haptic memory for touch. For example, the brief trail of light you see when a sparkler moves through the dark is your iconic memory at work. Although sensory memory is fleeting, it's incredibly high-capacity; we simply 'overwrite' it very quickly with new sensory input. Ultimately, only a tiny fraction of the sensory memory gets attention and is then passed onto short-term memory.