Question

The process by which new information displaces older information in short-term memory (STM) likely explains which of the following?

Select one:
a. that older information is less likely to be forgotten
b. that the capacity of short-term memory is variable
c. that the most recently learned bit of information is less likely to be forgotten
d. that the capacity of long-term memory is variable

Answer 1

The displacement of older information by new information in short-term memory suggests that recently learned information is less likely to be forgotten, due to the limited capacity of STM.

Step-by-step explanation:

The process by which new information displaces older information in short-term memory (STM) likely explains that the most recently learned bit of information is less likely to be forgotten. This is a concept described as proactive interference, where older information can interfere with the learning of new information. Short-term memory has a limited capacity, typically holding about seven bits of information for a short period of 15 to 30 seconds. Unlike long-term memory (LTM), which has a seemingly unlimited storage capacity, STM can become overloaded and information can be easily displaced by incoming data. The phenomenon of displacement in STM supports the idea that recent information is given precedence and is therefore less susceptible to being forgotten in the short term.