Memories are critical to our ability to operate upon even the most primary of levels. Our individual “truths” is as a matter of fact a great part due to the constantly changing over kaleidoscope of our recollections. Here we will touch concisely on the difference between short-term/working retention and long-term memory as well as how the two filter and add significance to our worlds.
What if we could recall everything we went through? As enticing as nourishment label it sounds, our limited brains would promptly detect themselves overwhelmed with the random particulars of yesterday’s weather estimate alongside the nutritional information off of final month’s box of raisin bran.
Thankfully, the vast majority of our retentions are fading intellectual wisps lasting only minutes to minutes. These ephemeral imprints make up what is called short-term or working memory.
Notice how working memory can temporarily pull details from long-term memory for short-term use. Although constantly changing and ephemeral itself, working memory is vital to our ability to make decisions and take action over time (such as our pouring that sour milk down the drain). For a brilliant and more in-depth description of working memory read Elizabeth Buchen’s “Working Memory: What it is and how it works”.
When an experience or bit of info sticks and does not vaporize with short-term memory, it is said to have moved into into the region of long-term memory. This travel is called consolidation and takes place after extended exposure to a piece of information or experience. The longer the exposure, the better the consolidation, the more robust the related retentions will be.
Long-term memories can store much larger amounts of information than working memory and for much longer periods of time (often as much as a lifespan). These resilient long-term recollections are made up of both consciously learned facts, such as “Madrid is the capital of Spain” and subconsciously acquired knowledge, such as the ability to balance and ride a bike.
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