Short Term Memory LossShort term memory loss is when memories only last for a few minutes and then you are not able to remember them. Short-term memory lasts only few minutes and then is bumped out by new short-term memories. The brain has a capacity to remember 5-9 short-term memory items at a time and then will forget after that. Some ways to combat short-term memory loss is repetition or association.Examples of short term memory loss are not being able to remember which level you parked your car or not being able to remember a new phone number. Since the short term memory has a capacity of 5-9 items, many everyday things are designed to accommodate this limitation of the brain. Phone numbers are typically 7 numbers (plus the area code which can constitute as one item) so that you can remember all seven numbers for a short period of time. Short term memory loss is common and there are easy ways to combat short term memory loss in your everyday life. For instance if you are parked in a large parking lot and you have to remember where you parked at the end of the day, use association. Example: if you have parked in section 6P, think about something else that you can associate with 6P like “six pack” for the number six and then ‘p’ for pack. Or you can think about how the number 6 can be flipped upside down to represent the “p.” The most important thing to remember when using association is to associate the memory with something you can remember. Short-term memory loss happens every day. It is a way for the brain to sift through memories and keep the ones that shape us as individuals.Sensory memories are often more memorable and repetition of other short term memories is what make them less forgettable. Repetition of short term memory like dialing a phone number over and over will help convert short term memory items to long term memory items. |