Individual Differences in Short-Term Memory and Their Relationship to Item Identification

Individual Differences in Short-Term Memory

Computational modeling of individual differences in short term memory search

Encoding strategy accounts for individual differences in change detection measures of VSTM

In three experiments, we studied the relation between degree of implicit learning and two aspects of short-term memory: (1) the activation level of the to-be-learned information, and (2) individual differences in short-term memory capacity. In all the experiments, we used the Nissen and Bullemer (1987) serial reaction time paradigm or a modification thereof. The effects of activation level were assessed by experimentally manipulating the rate of presentation. Individual differences in short-term memory capacity were assessed via traditional span measures. The experiments demonstrated that the rate of presentation reliably affected an indirect measure of learning (i.e., response time) under both incidental and intentional task instructions and under both single-task and dual-task conditions. Short-term memory span was reliably related to the indirect measure of learning only in some experimental conditions. The findings represent important constraints for models of implicit serial learning and are discussed within a general framework for understanding implicit learning and memory.

The Other Side of the Error Term - Aging and Development as Model Systems in Cognitive Neuroscience

Musicians are often regarded as a positive example of brain plasticity and associated cognitive benefits. This emerges when experienced musicians (e.g., musicians with more than 10 years of music training and practice) are compared with nonmusicians. A frequently observed behavioral finding is a short-term memory advantage of the former over the latter. Although available meta-analysis reported that the effect size of this advantage is medium (Hedges’s g = 0.5), no literature study was adequately powered to estimate reliably an effect of such size. This multilab study has been ideated, realized, and conducted in lab by several groups that have been working on this topic. Our ultimate goal was to provide a community-driven shared and reliable estimate of the musicians’ short-term memory advantage (if any) and set a method and a standard for future studies in neuroscience and psychology comparing musicians and nonmusicians. Thirty-three research units recruited a total of 600 experienced musicians and 600 nonmusicians, a number that is sufficiently large to estimate a small effect size (Hedges’s g = 0.3) with a high statistical power (i.e., 95%). Subsequently, we measured the difference in short-term memory for musical, verbal, and visuospatial stimuli. We also looked at cognitive, personality, and socioeconomic factors that might mediate the difference. Musicians had better short-term memory than nonmusicians for musical, verbal, and visuospatial stimuli with an effect size of, respectively, Hedges’s g s = 1.08 (95% confidence interval [CI] = [0.94, 1.22]; large), 0.16 (95% CI = [0.02 0.30]; very small), and 0.28 (95% CI = [0.15, 0.41]; small). This work sets the basis for sound research practices in studies comparing musicians and nonmusicians and contributes to the ongoing debate on the possible cognitive benefits of musical training.

The quality of education in Indonesia is still relatively low when compared with other countries. To improve student achievement, stimulation can be provided to improve learning abilities and memory abilities. The learning and memory process will be optimal if a person is in an alpha brain wave state (8 to 12 Hz). Music that has a tempo of around 60 beats per minute, such as classical music, has the ability to stimulate alpha brain waves. Dangdut music is more familiar to Indonesian people and there is dangdut music which can change alpha brain waves to be more dominant. This type of research is a pre-experimental design with a crossover design. This research aims to see the differences between dangdut and classical music in improving short-term memory. The sampling technique used was purposive sampling with a sample size of 30 people. Short-term memory measurements were carried out before and after receiving music exposure for 30 minutes. Measurements were carried out using the digit span test method. The result was that there was a significant increase in short-term memory after exposure to dangdut and classical music. The conclusion of this research is that dangdut music and classical music both have an impact on improving short-term memory abilities equally well.

Background: Speech segmentation is one of the initial and mandatory phases of language learning. Although some people with aphasia have shown a preserved ability to learn novel words, their speech segmentation abilities have not been explored.Aims: We examined the ability of individuals with chronic aphasia to segment words from running speech via statistical learning. We also explored the relationships between speech segmentation and aphasia severity, and short-term memory capacity. We further examined the role of lesion location in speech segmentation and short-term memory performance.Methods & Procedures: The experimental task was first validated with a group of young adults (n = 120). Participants with chronic aphasia (n = 14) were exposed to an artificial language and were evaluated in their ability to segment words using a speech segmentation test. Their performance was contrasted against chance level and compared to that of a group of elderly matched controls (n = 14) using group and case-by-case analyses.Outcomes & Results: As a group, participants with aphasia were significantly above chance level in their ability to segment words from the novel language and did not significantly differ from the group of elderly controls. Speech segmentation ability in the aphasic participants was not associated with aphasia severity although it significantly correlated with word pointing span, a measure of verbal short-term memory. Case-by-case analyses identified four individuals with aphasia who performed above chance level on the speech segmentation task, all with predominantly posterior lesions and mild fluent aphasia. Their short-term memory capacity was also better preserved than in the rest of the group.Conclusions: Our findings indicate that speech segmentation via statistical learning can remain functional in people with chronic aphasia and suggest that this initial language learning mechanism is associated with the functionality of the verbal short-term memory system and the integrity of the left inferior frontal region.

As the world turns: Short-term human spatial memory in egocentric and allocentric coordinates

The purposes of the study were to investigate (a) the task-specific differences in short-term memory (STM) and working memory capacity (WMC) in individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and normal elderly adults (NEAs), (b) the Stroop interference and facilitation effects, and (c) the relationship of STM and WMC to the Stroop effects. Thirty-two individuals participated in the study (n = 16 for each group). WMC demands were increased using a computerized Stroop-like token task to add more linguistic units. Six STM and WMC measures were administered overall. Digit-related tasks and an alphabet span task sensitively differentiated individuals with MCI from the NEA group. The group with MCI exhibited greater Stroop interference effects than the NEA group, but the 2 groups did not exhibit different Stroop facilitation effects. WMC significantly predicted performance on the response time analyses but not on the error rate analyses. Task-specific differences emerged in the group with MCI, and a reduced WMC accounts for the impaired inhibitory and goal maintenance processes. It is critical that WMC demands be systematically manipulated to tax individuals' WMC in a way that can clearly demonstrate their deficits, especially in individuals who are at risk for clinically demented states.

Serial order short-term memory capacities and specific language impairment: No evidence for a causal association

As a real-time, face-to-face translation form, liaison interpreting requires interpreters to accurately convey information and maintain its accuracy and fluency within a short period of time, which places extremely high demands on their short-term memory capacity. Short-term memory capacity is a crucial factor for the success of interpreting; thus, improving this capacity helps enhance the work efficiency and quality of liaison interpreters. This paper first elaborates on the theoretical frameworks of short-term memory and liaison interpreting, then explores the application of short-term memory in liaison interpreting as well as corresponding training methods. The ultimate goal is to improve interpreting quality and provide useful references for interpreting practice.

Working memory (WM) and short-term memory (STM) supposedly rely on the phase-amplitude coupling (PAC) of neural oscillations in the theta and gamma frequency ranges. The ratio between the individually dominant gamma and theta frequencies is believed to determine an individual’s memory capacity. The aim of this study was to establish a causal relationship between the gamma/theta ratio and WM/STM capacity by means of transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS). To achieve this, tACS was delivered at a frequency below the individual theta frequency. Thereby the individual ratio of gamma to theta frequencies was changed, resulting in an increase of STM capacity. Healthy human participants (N = 33) were allocated to two groups, one receiving verum tACS, the other underwent a sham control protocol. The electroencephalogram (EEG) was measured before stimulation and analyzed with regard to the properties of PAC between theta and gamma frequencies to determine individual stimulation frequencies. After stimulation, EEG was recorded again in order to find after-effects of tACS in the oscillatory features of the EEG. Measures of STM and WM were obtained before, during and after stimulation. Frequency spectra and behavioral data were compared between groups and different measurement phases. The tACS- but not the sham stimulated group showed an increase in STM capacity during stimulation. WM was not affected in either groups. An increase in task-related theta amplitude after stimulation was observed only for the tACS group. These augmented theta amplitudes indicated that the manipulation of individual theta frequencies was successful and caused the increase in STM capacity.

Research is dedicated to short-term memory training for university students specializing in translation and interpreting.The purpose of the study was to consider the possibilities of increasing short-term memory capacity of the students who study French by regular training during their language classes.To check short-term memory capacity, a method of random reproduction was chosen.It is an experimental method based on a list of words that respondents have to reproduce in a random order after hearing them.The words for the tests were chosen on the basis of their usage, imagery, the effect of phonological similarity and the effect of the length of the word.During testing, the physiological state of the respondents, their age and the speed of the teacher's reading were taken into consideration.To train short-term memory in French language classes, special tasks were created, and students performed them as part of class activities over a period of two months.The experiment showed that short-term memory training for students is effective and can be recommended for foreign language classes.The result of the experiment demonstrated significant growth in the short-term memory capacity of the students.

Reservoir computing is a brain heuristic computing paradigm that can complete training at a high speed. The learning performance of a reservoir computing system relies on its nonlinearity and short-term memory ability. As physical implementation, spintronic reservoir computing has attracted considerable attention because of its low power consumption and small size. However, few studies have focused on developing the short-term memory ability of the material itself in spintronics reservoir computing. Among various magnetic materials, spin glass is known to exhibit slow magnetic relaxation that has the potential to offer the short-term memory capability. In this research, we have quantitatively investigated the short-term memory capability of spin cluster glass based on the prevalent benchmark. The results reveal that the magnetization relaxation of Co, Si-substituted Lu3Fe5O12 with spin glass behavior can provide higher short-term memory capacity than ferrimagnetic material without substitution. Therefore, materials with spin glass behavior can be considered as potential candidates for constructing next-generation spintronic reservoir computing with better performance.