The capacity of short term memory from an evolutionary perspective

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Majid Manoochehri
Keyword(s):  
Short Term Memory ◽  
Memory Span ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Cognitive System ◽  
Evolutionary Approach ◽  
Evolutionary Perspective ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Term Memory

Memory span in humans has been intensely studied for more than a century. In spite of the critical role of memory span in our cognitive system, which intensifies the importance of fundamental determinants of its evolution, few studies have investigated it by taking an evolutionary approach. Overall, we know hardly anything about the evolution of memory components. In the present study, I briefly review the experimental studies of memory span in humans and non-human animals and shortly discuss some of the relevant evolutionary hypotheses.

scholarly journals Explaining semantic short-term memory deficits: Evidence for the critical role of semantic control

2011 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 368-381 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Hoffman ◽  
Elizabeth Jefferies ◽  
Matthew A. Lambon Ralph
Keyword(s):  
Short Term Memory ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Memory Deficits ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Term Memory

scholarly journals Multi-target attention and visual short-term memory capacity are closely linked in the intraparietal sulcus

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maren Prass ◽  
Bianca de Haan
Keyword(s):  
Short Term Memory ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Memory Capacity ◽  
Intraparietal Sulcus ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Term Memory ◽  
Visual Short Term Memory ◽  
General Capacity ◽  
The Right

The existing literature suggests a critical role for both the right intraparietal sulcus (IPS) and the right temporo-parietal junction (TPJ) in our ability to attend to multiple simultaneously-presented lateralised targets (multi-target attention), and the failure of this ability in extinction patients. Currently, however, the precise role of each of these areas in multi-target attention is unclear. In this study, we combined the theory of visual attention (TVA) with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) guided continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS) in neurologically healthy subjects to directly investigate the role of the right IPS and TPJ in multi-target attention. Our results show that cTBS at an area of the right IPS associated with multi-target attention elicits a reduction of visual short-term memory capacity. This suggests that the right IPS is associated with a general capacity-limited encoding mechanism that is engaged regardless of whether targets have to be attended or remembered. Curiously, however, cTBS to the right IPS failed to elicit extinction-like behaviour in our study, supporting previous suggestions that different areas of the right IPS may provide different contributions to multi-target attention. CTBS to the right TPJ failed to induce a change in either TVA parameters or extinction-like behaviour.

Role of affect in short-term memory for paired associates.

1968 ◽  
Vol 78 (3, Pt.1) ◽  
pp. 494-501 ◽  
Author(s):  
Calvin F. Nodine ◽  
James H. Korn
Keyword(s):  
Short Term Memory ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Term Memory ◽  
Paired Associates

Nothing left in store . . . but how do we measure attentional capacity?

2001 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 132-133
Author(s):  
Sergio Morra
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Procedural Knowledge ◽  
Short Term Memory ◽  
Memory Development ◽  
Compelling Evidence ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Term Memory ◽  
Focal Attention ◽  
And Storage

I compare the concepts of “activation” and “storage” as foundations of short-term memory, and suggest that an attention-based view of STM does not need to posit specialized short-term stores. In particular, no compelling evidence supports the hypothesis of time-limited stores. Identifying sources of activation, examining the role of activated procedural knowledge, and studying working memory development are central issues in modelling capacity-limited focal attention.

scholarly journals IS DIGIT SUPERIORITY INDISPENSABLE WITH REGARD TO SHORT TERM MEMORY SPAN?

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (22) ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Short Term Memory ◽  
Memory Span ◽  
Familiar Stimulus ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Superiority Effect ◽  
Term Memory ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Color Name ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Familiar Stimuli

It is known that digits have a positive effect on the performance of short term memory (STM) span and it is called the digit superiority effect. This study aims to examine the effect of familiar stimuli (digits, colors, digit names, color names, and words) on STM span. In order to measure STM capacity, a memory span task was used including the digit, word, and color span lists. 91 participants (44 female, 47 male) aged between 18-27 (M = 21,43, SD = 1.50) participated in the study that consisted of three different experiments. Results of Experiment 1 revealed that there was a significant difference between the digit name and word with regard to span size and total span. In Experiment 2 and 3, the main effect of familiar stimulus type on total span and span size was significant, and also the difference between all types of stimuli was significant (Experiment II, digit name>word=color name; Experiment III, digit>digit name>color name>color). The common result obtained from all experiments is that digits are superior with regard to STM span than other familiar stimuli types such as words, color names, colors. This study confirmed that digit superiority effect is indispensable on verbal and visual STM span. Keywords Digit superiority, short term memory, memory span

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