Final answer:
Short-term memory (STM) has a limited capacity, typically holds information for 15 to 30 seconds, and can store roughly seven bits of data. It plays a crucial role in the process of memory storage by acting as a temporary holding area before information is encoded into long-term memory. STM interacts with sensory memory and is a fundamental part of the working memory model proposed by Baddeley and Hitch.
Step-by-step explanation:
Short-term memory (STM) is an essential component of the human memory system, functioning as a temporary holding area for information. Some of the key characteristics of STM include its limited capacity and duration. It typically holds information for about 15 to 30 seconds unless it is consciously repeated or encoded for long-term storage. STM can hold approximately seven bits of information, which can be characters, digits, or chunks of information. This concept is sometimes referred to as Miller's Law. Moreover, the Atkinson-Shiffrin model suggests that information must pass through sensory memory before it can be stored in STM and eventually moved to long-term memory through the process of rehearsal. Models proposed by Baddeley and Hitch introduced the idea of working memory, which includes STM but also involves a more dynamic process with a central executive that controls the flow of information between different subsystems and long-term memory. Visual encoding refers to the way images are processed and stored in STM, while suggestibility and transience are potential errors that can affect how memories are retrieved or how they fade over time. STM interacts closely with sensory memory, which is responsible for the storage of brief sensory events such as sights, sounds, and tastes before potentially being moved to STM.