Short Term vs Long Term Memory: Difference and Comparison

Short-term memory is the temporary storage of information for immediate use, while long-term memory involves the retention of information over an extended period.

Key Takeaways

1. Short-term memory is the temporary storage of information that lasts a few seconds to a minute. In contrast, long-term memory is the more permanent information storage that can last from minutes to a lifetime.
2. Short-term memory has a limited capacity and holds 5 to 9 items, while long-term memory has a seemingly unlimited capacity.
3. The process of encoding, storage, and retrieval differs between short-term and long-term memory, with rehearsal and meaningful associations playing a significant role in transferring information from short-term to long-term memory.

Short Term vs Long Term Memory

The difference between Short Term and Long Term Memory is that Short term memory is the ability to store small amounts of information in the brain that occurred in the recent past. Long-term memory is the long-lasting ability of the brain to accumulate data from the past.

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Comparison Table

Feature	Short-Term Memory (STM)	Long-Term Memory (LTM)
Capacity	Limited (5-9 chunks)	Virtually unlimited
Duration	Seconds to minutes	Days, years, or even a lifetime
Purpose	Temporary storage for immediate use	Permanent storage for knowledge and experiences
Encoding	Primarily sensory	Semantic and contextual
Retrieval	Conscious effort required	Effortless or automatic
Organization	Limited or none	Complexly organized and interconnected
Examples	Remembering a phone number, directions, or a grocery list	Remembering your name, childhood memories, or acquired skills
Vulnerability	Easily disrupted by distraction or interference	Relatively stable, less prone to forgetting

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What is Short Term Memory?

Short-term memory (STM), also known as working memory, is a system in your brain that acts like a temporary holding chamber for information. It allows you to keep a small amount of data readily available for conscious processing and manipulation, for a short period of time, between seconds and minutes.

Here are some key characteristics of short-term memory:

• Limited capacity: It can only hold around 5-9 “chunks” of information at a time. These chunks can be anything from words and numbers to images and sounds.
• Short duration: Information decays quickly in STM if not actively rehearsed or used. After a few seconds to minutes, if not focused on, the information gets replaced or fades away.
• Active processing: Unlike long-term memory which is more passive, STM requires active manipulation and rehearsal to maintain the information. This can involve repeating something silently, mentally visualizing it, or using it in calculations.
• Importance for daily tasks: STM plays a crucial role in many everyday activities, such as following instructions, holding a conversation, making calculations, and completing tasks that require multi-step processes.

Think of STM as a notepad you grab for quick, temporary use. You jot down a phone number you need to dial, a grocery list you’re following, or directions you’re trying to remember. But unlike a written list, the information in STM isn’t permanent and needs to be actively refreshed or used to avoid fading away.

Here are some examples of how STM functions:

• Remembering a phone number long enough to dial it.
• Keeping track of multiple steps in a recipe while cooking.
• Holding a conversation and responding coherently.
• Performing mental calculations, like adding numbers in your head.

 

What is Long Term Memory?

Long-term memory (LTM) is the vast treasure trove of your mind, storing knowledge and experiences over extended periods, potentially even a lifetime. Unlike short-term memory’s fleeting grasp, LTM offers permanent residency for significant information, shaping who you are and how you navigate the world.

Here are some key features of long-term memory:

Spacious and boundless: Its capacity is practically limitless, allowing you to accumulate a lifetime’s worth of knowledge, facts, skills, and personal experiences.

Durable and persistent: Information in LTM isn’t readily forgotten. Once encoded, it can remain stable for years, decades, or even a lifetime, unless certain brain injuries or diseases intervene.

Complex and interconnected: LTM isn’t simply a pile of isolated facts. It’s a vast network, intricately woven together. Memories are linked through shared concepts, emotions, and contexts, allowing for flexible retrieval and association.

Effortless retrieval: Unlike accessing temporary information in short-term memory, most long-term memories are effortlessly retrieved when needed. Recalling your name, recognizing a childhood friend, or applying learned skills comes naturally.

Multi-faceted storage: LTM isn’t a single entity. It’s divided into two main categories:

• Explicit memory: This involves conscious recollection of facts and events. You can consciously recall your childhood home, historical dates, or personal experiences.
• Implicit memory: This encompasses unconscious skills and habits. You don’t consciously think about riding a bike, tying your shoes, or speaking your native language – you simply do it.

Think of LTM as a sprawling library filled with shelves of knowledge, meticulously categorized and interconnected. You can easily browse its vast collection, retrieve specific memories when needed, and even discover unexpected connections as you explore its depths.

Here are some examples of how LTM functions:

• Recalling childhood memories, both happy and sad.
• Recognizing faces of people you met years ago.
• Speaking your native language fluently and effortlessly.
• Applying learned skills such as playing an instrument, riding a bike, or performing complex tasks.
• Accumulating factual knowledge about history, science, or any other field of interest.

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Main Differences Between Short-Term and Long-Term Memory

Capacity:

• Short-term: Holds around 5-9 “chunks” of information at a time (like juggling 3-5 balls).
• Long-term: Virtually unlimited, like a never-ending warehouse.

Duration:

• Short-term: Seconds to minutes, like the juggling act ending after a short performance.
• Long-term: Days, years, or even a lifetime, like treasures stored for generations.

Purpose:

• Short-term: Temporary storage for immediate use, like remembering a phone number while dialing.
• Long-term: Permanent storage for knowledge and experiences, like remembering your childhood home.

Encoding:

• Short-term: Primarily sensory, like remembering the sound of a song you just heard.
• Long-term: Semantic and contextual, like associating a song with a specific event or emotion.

Retrieval:

• Short-term: Conscious effort required, like actively recalling a phone number.
• Long-term: Effortless or automatic, like recognizing your best friend’s face instantly.

Organization:

• Short-term: Limited or none, like juggling balls in no particular order.
• Long-term: Complexly organized and interconnected, like items in a warehouse categorized on shelves.

Think of it this way:

• Short-term memory is like your kitchen counter: You use it for temporary tasks like preparing a meal, but you wouldn’t store groceries there permanently.
• Long-term memory is like your pantry: You stock it with essential items for future use and easily access them when needed.

References

1. https://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/18/5/681.short
2. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1998-11364-005
3. https://www.jneurosci.org/content/jneuro/30/39/13066.full.pdf

Last Updated : 29 January, 2024