37. Describe the characteristics of short and long term memory and the theories of forgetting.
Short term memory is being able remember for a short amount of time only a few things. This short term memory is shown by if you can remember a phone number while calling, before the information is stored or forgotten by the brain.
Long term memory in return is being able to fully and limitlessly hold information. This is the place in which the memory system has things stored such as knowledge, experiences, and skills.
There are five different theories as to why we forget. The first is called cue- dependent forgetting. This is the inability to rethink a a memory due to having a missing stimuli or otherwise known as cues that were present at the time of the memory being stored.
The second is trace decay which explains how memories that are kept in both long and short term memory systems. This gives an assumption of that the memories leave a small trace throughout the brain. According to this theory the short term memory can only hold information for a very limited amount of time which is around 15- 30 seconds unless it is rehearsed. If not it will slowly fade away and decay. The idea for this came from Donald Hebb who proposed the idea that information coming in causes a line of neurons to create a neurological memory trace in the brain.
The third theory is organic causes. These theories are how you lose information that is already retained in the long term memory. Also you lose the ability to encode new information again. Some of these examples include Alzheimer’s, Amnesia, and Dementia.
The fourth is called interference theory. This is the idea that when you learn new information it must compete with the old material which can cause you to forget. This happens because the information memory may become confused with the other information being let in.
Finally, we have what is called the decay theory. This theory states that when something new is learned memory trace is created in the brain and gradually over time this trace often disintegrates. Although this can be helped if occasionally used.
Short term memory is being able remember for a short amount of time only a few things. This short term memory is shown by if you can remember a phone number while calling, before the information is stored or forgotten by the brain.
Long term memory in return is being able to fully and limitlessly hold information. This is the place in which the memory system has things stored such as knowledge, experiences, and skills.
There are five different theories as to why we forget. The first is called cue- dependent forgetting. This is the inability to rethink a a memory due to having a missing stimuli or otherwise known as cues that were present at the time of the memory being stored.
The second is trace decay which explains how memories that are kept in both long and short term memory systems. This gives an assumption of that the memories leave a small trace throughout the brain. According to this theory the short term memory can only hold information for a very limited amount of time which is around 15- 30 seconds unless it is rehearsed. If not it will slowly fade away and decay. The idea for this came from Donald Hebb who proposed the idea that information coming in causes a line of neurons to create a neurological memory trace in the brain.
The third theory is organic causes. These theories are how you lose information that is already retained in the long term memory. Also you lose the ability to encode new information again. Some of these examples include Alzheimer’s, Amnesia, and Dementia.
The fourth is called interference theory. This is the idea that when you learn new information it must compete with the old material which can cause you to forget. This happens because the information memory may become confused with the other information being let in.
Finally, we have what is called the decay theory. This theory states that when something new is learned memory trace is created in the brain and gradually over time this trace often disintegrates. Although this can be helped if occasionally used.