Short-term memory and long-term memory are two different types of memory that play different roles in our ability to remember concepts.
Short-term memory is a temporary storehouse for information that we are currently using or processing. It can hold about 7 items for about 30 seconds. This is where we keep phone numbers, shopping lists, and other pieces of information that we need to remember for a short period of time.
Long-term memory is a more permanent storehouse for information that we have learned or experienced. It can hold an unlimited amount of information for an indefinite period of time. Long-term memory is divided into two main types: declarative memory and procedural memory.
Declarative memory
It is the type of memory that we use to remember facts, events, and concepts. This is the type of memory that is tested on most standardised tests.
Procedural memory
It is the type of memory that we use to remember how to do things. This includes skills such as riding a bike, tying your shoes, and playing the piano.
Short-term memory plays an important role in remembering concepts by allowing us to temporarily store the information that we need to learn. For example, when we are learning a new concept, we may need to remember the definition of a term, the steps in a process, or the relationships between different concepts. Short-term memory allows us to keep this information in mind while we are trying to understand it.
Once we have learned a concept, it is transferred from short-term memory to long-term memory. This process is called consolidation. Consolidation is a complex process that is not fully understood, but it is thought to involve the formation of new neural pathways in the brain.
There are a number of things that can help to improve the consolidation of memories, including:
Repetition
The more often we repeat a memory, the stronger it becomes.
Elaboration
When we elaborate on a memory, we add new information to it, which makes it more complex and easier to remember.
Organisation
When we organise information, we make it easier to store and retrieve.
Sleep
Sleep is essential for memory consolidation.
By understanding the role of short-term and long-term memory in remembering concepts, we can develop strategies to improve our learning and memory.