Shrinithi Sathiyaseelan - Week #14: Memory at Work
Many of us are likely only familiar with two types of memory: long-term and short-term. However, there are many more divisions, types, and stages within the categories we are familiar with. While doing some research, I came across articles about working memory. This is a type of short-term memory that we use when we need to remember a phone number, an address, a shopping list, or a set of instructions. It's the ability to "hold and manipulate information in mind, over brief intervals." Since it is for things that are important to us at the moment, it is natural to tend to think that it is not really important. However, an article from The Conversation states that researchers believe working memory is central to the functioning of the mind.
Working memory can really only hold information for 10 to 20 minutes and only 5-9 pieces of information at a time. That's why we need to use strategies like repetition when cramming for a test the night before. We have to make deliberate efforts to move information from our short-term memory to our long-term memory.
Performances on tests of working memory improve throughout childhood, with its capacity being a major driving force of cognitive development. However, what surprised me was that performance steadily increases throughout childhood and the teenage years, reaching a peak in young adulthood. I believe this means that we are getting closer to our prime condition for being able to study last minute.
However, as we all know, the most efficient way to actually study is through a consistent, spaced-out review of material in order to keep things in our long-term memory. We may often take our working memory for granted, but as we get older, it will be harder for us to remember information on the spot as we hear it or actively work with it.
Hey Shrinithi! As a procrastinator and late-night crammer, this was pretty eye-opening to read. I’m starting to realize more and more that late-night cramming doesn’t seem to be helpful whatsoever so maybe it's time for me to start to make some real changes. Given that AP tests are around the corner, taking practice tests weekly and mastering practice problems a month in advance may be a starting point. A little rushed, but it's better than nothing. These changes can help develop long lasting, helpful habits that can strengthen my discipline. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHi Shrinthi, I've definitely experienced working memory before but never really classified it as its own type of memory. Studying for tests is when I use working memory the most, especially formulas in math. I would make sure I remember the formula exactly as it is for the test the next day. However, 90% of the time if you ask me to repeat the formula in two weeks I would not remember it. This is probably not the best way to go about learning math, but I definitely use my working memory in a lot more positive ways, many of which I don't even realize.
ReplyDeleteHi Shrinithi! This blog reminds me of what we learned in our computer science class with computers having a cache- things in its memory that were called upon constantly and thus closer to the thing that summoned the memory. There are parallels between our brain and computers than we know and this is especially true in memory. On that note, I am glad to hear that we are reaching the peak time to cram since I am a frequent visitor to the sacred institution of studying at the last minute. At the same time it is still scary that we will lose our brain cache.
ReplyDeleteShrinithi, what an interesting and educational post to read. Like you, I was thought there was just the two forms of memory, long and short, but now I know that is not the case. After reading what working memory is, I can definitely say that I have used this form of memory when studying for tests or preparing for a speech. This week in my math class we had a test and it had many equations and rules to memorize; the whole day I was just reciting those equations and rules in my head over and over to make sure I remembered them when I took the test. When the test was passed out, I immediately wrote out the equations I needed to know so that I would not forget them. I definitely need to understand the equations better so that they will stay in my long term memory rather than my short term memory.
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ReplyDeleteHey Shrinithi, I am not sure if this is how it works, but I also feel like when I focus only on that one thing I need to memorize like math functions, not spending cognitive effort on anything else, my working memory functions more effectively. Beyond that though, I am glad to hear that we are reaching a time where our last-minute studying would be most effective; I plan to make the best of it. While our working memory may be at its prime, I agree that to study efficiently, we need to put in effort to help maintain the material in our long-term memory by consistently reviewing it. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHey Shrinithi, the concept of working memory is one I think is broken within me. I try to tell myself to remember to do something, but I often find myself forgetting nearly every time. Even this morning, I told myself I would print out my Precis article and the Freaky Friday review and take it on the way out. I managed to remember to print both of them out, but completely forgot to take the printed paper on my way to leave. In a period of less than twenty minutes, I somehow completely forgot to do such a simple task of taking the paper. Maybe I will be able to fix this issue in the future.
ReplyDeleteWorking memory is interesting because of the extremely short window. I would think that makes it impractical, if I was going to do something in that short a window, I would have done it already yet I do not. The importance of enforcing our memories is something that can be lost on a lot of us especially with our ability to put reminders and notes for ourselves now. I know that when I need to remember to do something, I ask my Siri to set me a reminder. Today alone, I asked for a math homework reminder and a reminder to print my Freak Friday Extra Credit. I wonder if this ability to integrate technology in our lives has made us more efficient or purely just more reliant.
ReplyDeleteHi Shrinithi! I had no idea that memory is so complicated and that there are so many types and divides to study and learn. This is the first time I have ever heard of working memory, but after learning about it, I think it is very interesting how this field of memory can develop and improve as we get older. I guess I finally found a positive side to being a procrastinator and studying last minute. I wonder if the information I memorized for tests and quizzes falls into the category of working memory since I always seem to forget what I learned a few days after the exam. Your blog post made me interested to learn more about other kinds of memories. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHi Shrinithi, I understand that to obtain new memories, humans must lose some of their older memories to make more room, however, even if it is not being used, I feel that almost all memories are valuable. I wish that there was a way to choose which memories to get rid of and which ones to keep because as more time passes I feel that I am losing memories of my past in addition to my ability to communicate with my grandparents. Still, I also see the pros to creating new memories and gaining new abilities in present times.
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