Short-Term Working Memory: Techniques and Influencing Factors
Michelle Park
Yasmine Payne
Earvin Balderama
FYRE Summer Program, Loyola University Chicago
Introduction
● Short-term working memory tests
● Factors influencing memory: artistic background, level of physical activity, amount
of sleep, biological (gender)
○ Brain regions involved in music processing are also required for other tasks,
such as memory or language skills.
○ Prior studies performed on rats have shown a positive correlation between
exercise and memory
○ Lack of quality sleep negatively impacts our short-term memory because the
“brain’s ability to store memory during waking hours is reduced and information
isn’t retained long enough”
○ Males comprehend material better than females when recalling and answering
questions about data
● Individuals utilize certain memorization techniques depending on the type of test
given
○ Hypothesis: Acrostic or association method is preferred for the word test,
chunking for the number test, and visualization for the picture test.
Word Test
Summary of Data
● Most commonly used methods: rehearsal
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Fountain Acorn
and chunking
Chancellor Publisher
● Highest-scoring methods: visualization
Cheat
Margin
Using
Stake
and association
Fill
Crisp
Native
Puzzle
● The method of loci also received high
Mate
Hang
scores, but because only a couple people
Back
Past
Brightness Fabric
used this method it cannot be said with
Contributor Ranting
Brother
Porter
confidencefile:///Users/Michelle/Desktop/Picture%2
how well this method works
overall.
Dialect
Giving
Vote
Brave
Button
Mix
Beginner
Completeness
Wade
Impossible
Stupidity
Wit
Examples of Word Tests Administered
● Number test had highest
standard deviation due to
scoring→ consecutive order
during recall (did not matter for
word or picture test)
● Higher scores overall for
picture test
Research Questions:
● Which method was used most often/least often for each test?
● Which method was most/least helpful for each test?
● What are the relationships between memory and memory, gender, and
lifestyle?
Number Test
Memorization Techniques
● Mnemonic/Acrostic: An invented sentence or poem with a first
letter cue: The first letter of each word is a cue to an idea: Please
Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally (PEMDAS)
● Rehearsal: A method of learning through repetition; benefit of
being able to quickly recall an item shortly after seeing it
● Chunking: Taking individual items and grouping them into larger
units; e.g. chunking telephone area codes: 773847312708 → 773
847 312 708.
● Visualization: Using your imagination to create vivid images of
items; e.g. visualizing the memory test
● Association: Mentally associating items to each other
● Method of loci: Each location serves as a hook, to which you
visually connect whatever you want to remember to an
image/scene.
● Combination: Any combination of the above-listed methods
● Consistent trend per test →
females scored higher than
males.
○ 27 females, 15 males
● Score difference most
significant for number test
● Scores almost equal for picture
test
○ Females 10.26 pictures,
Males 10 pictures
635791836508
436377358169
334717493572
Examples of Number Tests Administered
● Most commonly used method:
chunking and rehearsal
● Highest-scoring methods:
association and visualization
-However, only a small handful of
students utilized them
Low frequencies of
method used may
have inflated
averages. Refer to
“Frequency of Method”
graphs for each test.
Conclusion
● Hypothesis disproven
○ No correlation between memory and arts involvement, physical activity, and sleep
○ Females scored higher on average
● Rehearsal alone → less advantageous for short-term memory
Picture Test
Procedure
1. Three tests were created and administered – a randomly
generated list of words, numbers, and pictures.
2. Convenience sampling: FYRE students living in Simpson
Floor 2 who were willing to participate in the study
3. Each test was administered on a different day, specifically to
see if the amount of sleep affected the scores.
4. Participant was given thirty seconds to memorize the test
and, immediately after, a minute to recall (write down)
everything he/she remembered
5. After the test, we asked a short series of questions
pertaining to the participant’s background: any history of
artistic background, level of physical activity, and hours of
sleep received the night before.
6. After each test, the data was analyzed for trends and
relationships.
● Most commonly used methods:
rehearsal and visualization
● Highest-scoring methods: chunking
and association
● People who used the method of loci
and acrostic method scored well, but
only a small handful utilized these
methods
● Association and visualization help remember more effectively
○ Relate something to what we already know; conceptualize image
● Combination of methods may prove to be more beneficial than one alone
● Future research
○ Gender and memory
○ More extensive experiment with random sampling
○ Neuropathology: which part(s) of the brain is involved in different type of tests
○ Factors influencing memory vs. long term memory
Example of Picture Test Administered
○ Miller’s Law → Why picture test exceeded expectations
References
Geiger, John F., and Robert M. Litwiller. "Spatial Working Memory and Gender Differences in Science."
EBSCO Host. N.p., `1 Mar. 2005. Web. 26 May 2015.
"How Sleep Plays an Active Role in Your Short Term Memory." Kowahealthcare.com. Kowa Health Care
America, Inc., 4 Feb. 2015. Web. 31 May 2015.
McDonald, M., B. Raupp, W. Jiang, K. Leung, and E. Hanhauser. "Effects of Acute Aerobic Exercise on Short
Term Memory." Effects of Acute Aerobic Exercise on Short Term Memory (n.d.): n. pag. Web. 31 May 2015.
"Music Can Increase Memory and Language Skills." News-Medical.net. 27 Oct. 2009. Web. 02 June 2015.