Unlike sensory memory, short-term memory
Multiple Choice
stores information for less than a second.
holds a relatively full and detailed representation of the world.
receives information from the working memory.
has incomplete representational capabilities.
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is: has incomplete representational capabilities.
Explanation:
Short-term memory differs from sensory memory in the way it processes and holds information. Sensory memory captures information for a very brief moment (less than a second) and stores raw, unprocessed data from the environment. In contrast, short-term memory is responsible for holding information for a slightly longer duration, typically from a few seconds to a minute.
However, short-term memory has limitations. It doesn’t store a detailed or fully accurate representation of the world, but instead holds a much more limited amount of information. The information it retains is often incomplete and not as richly detailed as it is in sensory memory or long-term memory. The capacity of short-term memory is limited, usually to about 7 items (plus or minus 2), according to George Miller’s famous theory. This limitation means that not all incoming sensory data makes it into short-term memory, and only a fragment of what’s perceived is encoded.
Additionally, short-term memory interacts with working memory, a system involved in the temporary storage and manipulation of information. While short-term memory holds information momentarily, working memory is actively used to process and use that information, such as in problem-solving or decision-making. However, this does not mean that short-term memory holds an accurate or detailed representation of the world; rather, it captures pieces of information temporarily for active use.
Thus, short-term memory is characterized by its limited and incomplete ability to represent the world, focusing only on small chunks of information that are briefly held and processed.