Why is short-term memory bad but long-term memory good?

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Our memories play important roles in our daily lives, from remembering simple things to remembering important information. However, many people experience a difference between their short-term and long-term memories. They find that they easily forget recent events or struggle to keep new information, while having a strong ability to remember past events and knowledge. This phenomenon raises an important question: Why are my short-term memories bad but good long-term memories?

The nature of short-term memory.

Often called working memory, short-term memory serves to temporarily hold and process information. It makes us remember short-term things like phone numbers and shopping lists that we should make calls. However, the capacity of short-term memory is limited, and the information stored in it is easily replaced or forgotten.

One reason short-term memory is prone to forgetting is a lack of integration. Integration is the process by which information is transferred from short-term memory to long-term memory. If integration is compromised or interrupted, information from short-term memory is more likely to disappear or be forgotten.

The power of long-term memory.

Long-term memory, on the other hand, is more capacity and durable than short-term memory. It serves as the storage and retrieval of information from months to even lifetime. Long-term memory can be further divided into explicit memory (conscious memory) and implicit memory (non-conscious impact).

The strength of long-term memory lies in its ability to integrate and maintain information for a long time. Memory becomes more deeply rooted and resistant to oblivion through processes such as encoding, storing, and searching. Long-term memory also helps to maintain memory, aided by connections and connections between related concepts.

Factors that could lead to a gap.

There are several factors that can contribute to the difference between short-term and long-term memory.

Attention and Attention Short-term memory is highly dependent on attention and attention. Our ability to encode information into short-term memory is impaired if we are distracted or not fully focused. Long-term memory, on the other hand, can benefit from strong emotional relationships or repeated exposure to information.

Rehearsal Strategies: Effective rehearsal strategies can help pass information from short-term to long-term memory. Techniques such as repetition, visualization, and memory devices help strengthen memory retention. Potential differences in the utilization of these strategies can affect the performance of short-term and long-term memories.

Brain Structure: Various brain structures play a role in short-term and long-term memory.