Introduction
This paper will attempt to explain the concept of working memory, short term memory and long term memory and their role in encoding and retrieval in the memory process. The author took an online memory test to test her working memory. The test was graded and compared to the scores of others who had previously taken the same test. The test was a two part test; the first part tested for verbal memory and the second part tested for visual memory.
The concepts of working memory, short-term memory, and long-term memory.
Short-term memory is also called working memory. Short-term memory can be thought of as a blank slate. This blank slate is a temporary, reusable workspace in the mind that is used for comprehension reasoning and planning. The textbook uses the term blackboard to describe short-term memory. William James (1890. Exner p. 646) captures the feeling of short-term or working memory as “when deeply absorbed, we do not hear the clock strike. But our attention may awake after the striking has ceased, and we may then count off the strokes.” The information is there (in our mind) waiting for further instructions.
Long-term memory is composed of two memories; episodic and semantic memories. Episodic memory is where personal or autobiographical information is stored. For example; your name, social security number and drivers’ license number. Change of address, names and birthdates are all items that go into the episodic memory. Semantic memory is where we store our general knowledge. General knowledge is “the things you know.” Semantic memory is comparable to a dictionary or an encyclopedia. Generally, unless something happens information in your long-term memory is always there. As you age, sometimes it is harder to retrieve, but it is still there, waiting for cues to recall it.
Describe your selected test and your results.
This author selected a test that had two parts; (1) visual memory and (2) recall and...