Question

Compare and contrast the four types of memory discussed in this week’s readings. The Sensory Memory, Short Term memory, Long Term Memory and Working Memory.

Answer 1

Answer- Memory is a general term of mind by which any information or past experiences are encoded, stored or retrieved. Memory is a brain wide process in which different areas of brain work with each other. It is the ability to recall any information or past experiences. Memory also helps us to learn through our past experiences and to build relationships. Psychologists have described different types of memory which can be described as follows-

• The Sensory Memory- The sensory memory is a memory storage in which the informations can be stored only for a second or less than that. People are able to retain impressions of sensory information after the removal of original stimulus. It is also known as sensory storage or sensory register. Sensory memory has two types which can be described as Iconic memory and Echoic memory. The sensory memory generally gets information through five senses- sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch.
• Short Term Memory- Short term memory is also named as primary memory by William James. This memory has two characteristics- First, the information received in short term memory can be stored for 20-30 seconds and second, the information received in this memory are of weak nature. Short term memory does not manipulate the information but it hold it in mind for a short priod of time in an active state. The short term memory is also known as active memory, immediate memory and short term store.
• Long Term Memory- William James has given it a name of secondary memory. Long term memory has the unlimited capacity. The duration of storing information might be for few seconds or for lifetime. Other names of long term memory are inactive memory or long term store. Long term memory has the capacity to store different types of informations. The three main types of long term memory are- procedural memory, episodic memory and semantic memory.
• Working Memory- Working memory refers to a cognitive system which has a limited capacity to hold available information processing. working memory plays an important role for guidance of behaviour and decision making capacity. Working memory is different from short term memory because it manipulates the stored information but short term memory is only based on the short term storage of information.