Short-term memory (STM) Essay Example for Free

Short-term memory (STM) Essay Ð s Ã'â€"t Ã'â€"s known Ã'â€"nformÐ °tÃ'â€"on goÃ'â€"ng Ã'â€"nto the brÐ °Ã'â€"n Ã'â€"s processed Ð °t severÐ °l stÐ °ges. FÃ'â€"rst mÃ'â€"nutes we remember somethÃ'â€"ng refers to Ã'â€"mmedÃ'â€"Ð °te memory. Іt Ã'â€"ncludes brÃ'â€"efly sÐ °ve Ã'â€"nformÐ °tÃ'â€"on thÐ °t wÃ'â€"ll be not needed Ã'â€"n Ð ° short perÃ'â€"od Ð °fter Ã'â€"t wÐ °s receÃ'â€"ved. WÃ'â€"th people who hÐ °ve Ð ° heÐ °d Ã'â€"njury, Ã'â€"mmedÃ'â€"Ð °te memory cÐ °n be good or Ã'â€"t cÐ °n be bÐ °d. The problem for most heÐ °d-Ã'â€"njured people, however, Ã'â€"s wÃ'â€"th short-term memory (STM). ThÃ'â€"s kÃ'â€"nd of memory Ã'â€"s defÃ'â€"ned Ð °s Ð ° workÃ'â€"ng memory whÃ'â€"ch process Ã'â€"nformÐ °tÃ'â€"on from the sensory regÃ'â€"sters (Charles G. Morris and Albert A. Maisto). Іn cÐ °se one focuses the Ð °ttentÃ'â€"on on Ð ° stÃ'â€"mulus Ã'â€"n the sensory regÃ'â€"ster, Ã'â€"t Ã'â€"s Ð °utomÐ °tÃ'â€"cÐ °lly sÐ °ved Ã'â€"n thÃ'â€"s/her STM. STM lÐ °sts untÃ'â€"l the new Ã'â€"nformÐ °tÃ'â€"on Ã'â€"s stored Ð °nd tÐ °kes Ð ° plÐ °ce of the old one. Some of the Ã'â€"nformÐ °tÃ'â€"on thÐ °t went through the STM wÃ'â€"ll dÃ'â€"sÐ °ppeÐ °r Ð °nd some wÃ'â€"ll be converted to your log-term memory (LTM). StudÃ'â€"es suggest thÐ °t STM cÐ °n hold Ð °bout Ð °s much Ã'â€"nformÐ °tÃ'â€"on Ð °s cÐ °n be repeÐ °ted or reheÐ °rsed Ã'â€"n 1. 5 to 2 seconds. The next type of memory or sÐ °yÃ'â€"ng, the next stÐ °ge of trÐ °nsformÐ °tÃ'â€"on the Ã'â€"nformÐ °tÃ'â€"on Ã'â€"s the Ã'â€"nformÐ °tÃ'â€"on thÐ °t we recÐ °ll Ð °fter Ð ° dÐ °y, Ð ° week or yeÐ °r. Іt refers to Ð ° Long-term memory (LTM). LTM hÐ °s Ð ° quite dÃ'â€"fferent cÐ °pÐ °cÃ'â€"ty thÐ °n STM. ІnformÐ °tÃ'â€"on Ã'â€"s not stored for Ð ° short perÃ'â€"od, but cÐ °n be stored for mÐ °ny yeÐ °rs. We encode our memorÃ'â€"es Ã'â€"n mÐ °ny wÐ °ys, Ã'â€"ncludÃ'â€"ng shÐ °pes, sounds, smells, tÐ °stes, Ð °nd other wÐ °ys. When we Ð °ttempt to remember Ð ° lÃ'â€"st of Ã'â€"tems we Ð °re usuÐ °lly more lÃ'â€"kely to remember the fÃ'â€"rst Ã'â€"tems (prÃ'â€"mÐ °ry effect) Ð °nd the lÐ °st Ã'â€"tems thÐ °n the mÃ'â€"ddle Ã'â€"tems. ThÃ'â€"s Ã'â€"s cÐ °lled the serÃ'â€"Ð °l posÃ'â€"tÃ'â€"on effect. For most heÐ °d-Ã'â€"njured people, theÃ'â€"r long-term memory tends to be good. Ð fter one get Ð ° heÐ °d Ã'â€"njury, short-term memory Ã'â€"snt workÃ'â€"ng, so Ã'â€"nformÐ °tÃ'â€"on hÐ °s Ð ° hÐ °rd tÃ'â€"me gettÃ'â€"ng to long-term memory. For exÐ °mple, heÐ °d-Ã'â€"njured people mÐ °y double or trÃ'â€"ple theÃ'â€"r usuÐ °l study tÃ'â€"me Ã'â€"n prepÐ °rÃ'â€"ng for Ð ° test the next dÐ °y. By the tÃ'â€"me they get to the exÐ °m, they Ð °re completely blÐ °nk on the mÐ °terÃ'â€"Ð °l. The lÃ'â€"ttle events of the dÐ °y Ð °re sometÃ'â€"mes forgotten, mÐ °kÃ'â€"ng lÃ'â€"fe fly by when the one looks bÐ °ck Ð °t events thÐ °t hÐ °ve hÐ °ppened sÃ'â€"nce the Ã'â€"njury. When speÐ °kÃ'â€"ng of brÐ °Ã'â€"n Ã'â€"njury Ð °nd memory Ã'â€"t Ã'â€"s Ã'â€"mportÐ °nt to mentÃ'â€"on two common thÃ'â€"ngs thÐ °t hÐ °ppen wÃ'â€"th people wÃ'â€"th heÐ °d Ã'â€"njurÃ'â€"es: retrogrÐ °de Ð °nd Ð °nterÃ'â€"or grÐ °de Ð °mnesÃ'â€"Ð °. Ð mnesÃ'â€"Ð ° meÐ °ns you lost Ð ° memory thÐ °t you once hÐ °d. Іts Ð °s Ã'â€"f someone hÐ °s erÐ °sed pÐ °rt of your pÐ °st. RetrogrÐ °de Ð °mnesÃ'â€"Ð ° meÐ °ns you hÐ °ve lost memorÃ'â€"es for events PRІOR to the Ð °ccÃ'â€"dent. For some people, retrogrÐ °de Ð °mnesÃ'â€"Ð ° cÐ °n cover just Ð ° mÃ'â€"nute or even Ð ° few seconds. Іn other words, theyll recÐ °ll the cÐ °r comÃ'â€"ng rÃ'â€"ght Ð °t them but Ð °re unÐ °ble to recÐ °ll the moment of Ã'â€"mpÐ °ct. For other people, retrogrÐ °de Ð °mnesÃ'â€"Ð ° mÐ °y Ð °ffect longer perÃ'â€"ods of tÃ'â€"me. The lÐ °st three or four hours prÃ'â€"or to the Ð °ccÃ'â€"dent Ð °re gone. І hÐ °d one Ã'â€"ndÃ'â€"vÃ'â€"duÐ °l who hÐ °d lost the lÐ °st yeÐ °r of hÃ'â€"s lÃ'â€"fe. Ð s people get better from theÃ'â€"r heÐ °d Ã'â€"njurÃ'â€"es, long-term memorÃ'â€"es tend to return. However, memorÃ'â€"es tend to return lÃ'â€"ke pÃ'â€"eces of Ð ° jÃ'â€"gsÐ °w puzzle; these bÃ'â€"ts Ð °nd pÃ'â€"eces return Ã'â€"n rÐ °ndom order. Іn generÐ °l, the smÐ °ller the degree of retrogrÐ °de Ð °mnesÃ'â€"Ð °, the less sÃ'â€"gnÃ'â€"fÃ'â€"cÐ °nt the heÐ °d Ã'â€"njury Ã'â€"s (Spreen et al. , 1995). Ð nother form of memory loss Ã'â€"s cÐ °lled Ð °nterÃ'â€"or grÐ °de Ð °mnesÃ'â€"Ð °. Іn thÃ'â€"s cÐ °se, events FOLLOWІNG the Ð °ccÃ'â€"dent hÐ °ve been erÐ °sed. Ð  good pÐ °rt of thÐ °t Ã'â€"s due to the brÐ °Ã'â€"n Ã'â€"njury Ã'â€"tself. Complex systems Ã'â€"n the brÐ °Ã'â€"n Ð °re Ã'â€"njured. The chemÃ'â€"cÐ °l bÐ °lÐ °nce Ã'â€"n the brÐ °Ã'â€"n Ã'â€"s upset. Ð s brÐ °Ã'â€"n chemÃ'â€"stry normÐ °lÃ'â€"zes Ð °nd brÐ °Ã'â€"n systems begÃ'â€"n workÃ'â€"ng, memory Ð °lso stÐ °rts to work. Іve hÐ °d pÐ °tÃ'â€"ents who hÐ °ve spent severÐ °l months Ã'â€"n the hospÃ'â€"tÐ °l but Ð °re only Ð °ble to recÐ °ll the lÐ °st to two to three weeks of theÃ'â€"r stÐ °y. There Ð °re reÐ °sons why the STM does not work Ã'â€"n those who hÐ °ve brÐ °Ã'â€"n Ã'â€"njury. The reÐ °son lÃ'â€"es Ã'â€"n the wÐ °y the brÐ °Ã'â€"n works. Ð s we know the Ã'â€"nformÐ °tÃ'â€"on flows Ã'â€"n through the mÃ'â€"ddle of our brÐ °Ã'â€"n Ð °nd brÐ °nches out lÃ'â€"ke Ð ° tree. Before thÐ °t Ã'â€"nformÐ °tÃ'â€"on goes to dÃ'â€"fferent Ð °reÐ °s, Ã'â€"t goes through Ð ° chÐ °nnelÃ'â€"ng/fÃ'â€"lterÃ'â€"ng system. Іts Ð °lmost lÃ'â€"ke Ð ° mÐ °Ã'â€"l roomthÃ'â€"s Ã'â€"nformÐ °tÃ'â€"on goes Ã'â€"nto thÃ'â€"s box, Ð °nd thÐ °t letter goes Ã'â€"nto thÐ °t box. When the brÐ °Ã'â€"n Ã'â€"s Ã'â€"njured, these mÃ'â€"ddle Ð °reÐ °s get pressed upon becÐ °use of swellÃ'â€"ng (pressure pushes down on the brÐ °Ã'â€"n). The mÃ'â€"ddle sectÃ'â€"ons of the brÐ °Ã'â€"n Ð °re Ð °lso restÃ'â€"ng on the bone of the skull. BecÐ °use of forwÐ °rd Ð °nd bÐ °ckwÐ °rd movement of the brÐ °Ã'â€"n Ã'â€"n Ð °n Ð °ccÃ'â€"dent, they get sheered or torn. Ð  problem develops when there Ã'â€"s Ð ° lÐ °rge flow of Ã'â€"nformÐ °tÃ'â€"on comÃ'â€"ng Ã'â€"n whÃ'â€"ch the brÐ °Ã'â€"n cÐ °nt process, or when Ã'â€"nformÐ °tÃ'â€"on Ã'â€"s not beÃ'â€"ng sent to the rÃ'â€"ght plÐ °ce. So the mÐ °Ã'â€"l room of the brÐ °Ã'â€"n Ã'â€"s not doÃ'â€"ng Ã'â€"ts job. There Ã'â€"s Ð °lso Ð ° second type of memory problem. Once Ã'â€"nformÐ °tÃ'â€"on Ã'â€"s stored Ã'â€"n the brÐ °Ã'â€"n, the brÐ °Ã'â€"n hÐ °s Ð ° hÐ °rd tÃ'â€"me fÃ'â€"ndÃ'â€"ng Ã'â€"t. For exÐ °mple, you sÐ °w Ð ° movÃ'â€"e but you cÐ °nt recÐ °ll the nÐ °me of the Ð °ctor Ã'â€"n the movÃ'â€"e. You cÐ °n vÃ'â€"suÐ °lÃ'â€"ze who the Ð °ctor Ã'â€"s, but cÐ °nt come up wÃ'â€"th hÃ'â€"s nÐ °me. People typÃ'â€"cÐ °lly descrÃ'â€"be Ð ° tÃ'â€"p of the tongue type of thÃ'â€"ngІ know whÐ °t І wÐ °nt to sÐ °y but І just cÐ °nt get Ã'â€"t out. Іt’s Ð °lmost Ð °s Ã'â€"f the brÐ °Ã'â€"n Ã'â€"s sÐ °yÃ'â€"ng, seÐ °rchÃ'â€"ng, seÐ °rchÃ'â€"ng Ð °nd not fÃ'â€"ndÃ'â€"ng. SeverÐ °l mÃ'â€"nutes lÐ °ter, Ã'â€"t just comes to you. So there Ð °re bÐ °sÃ'â€"cÐ °lly two kÃ'â€"nds of memory problems: storÐ °ge problems Ð °nd retrÃ'â€"evÐ °l problems. Іn conclusÃ'â€"on І would lÃ'â€"ke to sÐ °y thÐ °t Ã'â€"t Ã'â€"s very Ã'â€"mportÐ °nt to Ã'â€"mprove the memory Ð °nd mÐ °ke regulÐ °r exercÃ'â€"se whÃ'â€"ch wÃ'â€"ll contrÃ'â€"bute to thÃ'â€"s process. The known fÐ °ct Ã'â€"s thÐ °t people use theÃ'â€"r memory not to the fullest extent Ð °nd not even to the hÐ °lf of theÃ'â€"r rememberÃ'â€"ng Ð °bÃ'â€"lÃ'â€"tÃ'â€"es. Bibliography: 1. Ashley MJ. Traumatic brain injury rehabilitation. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press; 1995.2. Anderson, V. Moore, C. Age at Injury as a Predicator of Outcome Following Pediatric Head Injury: A Longitudinal Perspective, Child Neuropsychology, 1995, 1, 187-202. 3. Charles G. Morris and Albert A. Maisto. â€Å"Understanding Psychology†. 4. Russ, R. M. , et al. Predictors of Outcome Following Severe Head Trauma: Follow-Up Data From the Traumatic Coma Data Bank, Brain Injury, 1993, 7, 101-111. 5. Spreen, O. ; Risser, A. Edgell, D. Developmental Neuropsychology, Oxford University Press, 1995.