Short-Term Memory

[Jerry.Ball at williams.af.mil]

Paschler addresses the criticisms of short-term memory.  In a summary
paragraph (p. 330), he states "In summary, the broad three-part distinction
postulated by the modal model [sensory store, STM, LTM] has received an
extraordinary amount of criticism over the years.  The original, relatively
primitive versions of the model (e.g., Atkinson and Shiffrin, 1968) require
important modification, principally, abandoning the idea of serial
information flow and the suggestion that short-term memory is unitary and
exclusively verbal.  Furthermore, the model must be read with the
understanding that the proposed memory structures are not claimed to have,
nor are they likely to have, the exclusive function of memory storage.  Once
modified and interpreted in this way, the model readily deflects most of the
criticisms, and its core ideas enjoy broad and diverse empirical support.
As a simple model of a vastly complex domain of human memory, it undoubtedly
oversimplifies in important ways.  Nevertheless, several decades of research
suggests that it has important insights at its core and may represent one of
the more significant accomplishments of contemporary experimental
psychology."

In arriving at this conclusion, Paschler explores the possibility that STM
corresponds to short-term neuronal firing activity as opposed to long-term
synaptic strength modification.  On p. 328 he notes that "It remains to be
seen whether this simple neural interpretation of the STM/LTM distinction
will hold up in light of future research, but data thus far are
encouraging."

In ACT-R, a clear distinction is made between "base-level activation (the
Bi)" and "associative activation (determined by Wj and the Sji)".  Were one
to suggest a connection between "associative activation" and neuronal
firing, certain inferences would follow...

Jerry

Jerry T. Ball, PhD
L3 Communications, Link Simulation & Training
Air Force Research Lab
6030 S. Kent Street, Mesa, AZ 85212-6061
480-988-9773 ext. 457
jerry.ball at williams.af.mil