Curto prazo memory (STM) is a crucial component of human cognition, allowing individuals to temporarily store and manage information necessary for various tasks. Typically, short-term memory can hold about 7 (plus or minus 2) items at a time, a concept known as Miller’s Lei, which was proposed by psychologist George A. Miller in 1956.
Information in short-term memory is retained for a brief duration, usually ranging from 15 to 30 seconds, unless actively rehearsed or encoded into memória de longo prazo. This type of memory is essential for daily activities, such as remembering phone numbers long enough to dial them or recalling a grocery list while shopping.
O processo de memória de curto prazo envolve várias etapas. Inicialmente, as informações sensoriais são percebidas pelos sentidos e brevemente retidas na memória sensorial. Se a atenção for focada em certos estímulos, essas informações são transferidas para a memória de curto prazo. A repetição, que pode ser manutenção (repetindo as informações) ou elaborativa (ligando novas informações ao conhecimento existente), ajuda a reter as informações por mais tempo ou a transferi-las para a memória de longo prazo.
A memória de curto prazo é distinta de memória de trabalho, although the two terms are often used interchangeably. Working memory involves not just the temporary storage of information but also the manipulation and processing of that information for cognitive tasks. It plays a critical role in reasoning, comprehension, and learning.
Understanding short-term memory is vital in various fields, including education, psychology, and neuroscience, as it impacts how people learn and retain new information.