MEMORY

The memory of an individual can be divided into:

• Short-term memory (STM): The attention mechanism determines which information is transferred to short-term memory. This type of memory allows information to be held briefly, typically lasting 10 to 20 seconds unless actively rehearsed and intentionally moved to long-term memory. Without rehearsal, these items are lost due to interference from new information or previously stored data. Short-term memory has a limited capacity, capable of holding around 7 ± 2 unrelated items. When this limit is surpassed, some of the items are likely to be lost or misplaced. Short-term memory is highly sensitive to interruptions.

• Long-term memory (LTM): When information in short-term memory is rehearsed, it gets transferred to long-term memory. It is believed that long-term memory can store information indefinitely, although retrieval can sometimes be challenging. A significant drawback is the time it takes to access stored information. Long-term memory consists of three types of information: Semantic memory, Episodic memory and Procedural memory (motor programs).