Memory can be a fleeting thing, and as you get older, your body begins to slow down production on chemicals that allow you to recall items, according the American Academy of Family Physicians. While this may not affect your short-term memory, long-term memory is affected. This is just one of the many examples of the differences between these two memory types. Knowing how you develop these memories and how you can help to recall them allows you to improve your memory recall abilities.
Usage
Short-term memory allows a person to remember something he needs to recall for the next few moments, according to the University of Southern California. For example, a person may use short-term memory to remember the name of a person he just met for the purposes of that conversation. In contrast, long-term memory helps him know how to speak to the person, conduct a conversation and exchange greetings, such as a handshake. This means a person uses long-term memory to conduct the activities of his daily life, while short-term memory allows a person to use quick bits of information when he needs to recall something quickly.
Capacity
Because short-term memories need to be recalled for a lesser amount of time than long-term memories, the human brain only has so much capacity for remembering short-term items, according to 2008 University of Missouri research that was published in the journal "Progress in Brain Research." A person's short-term memory can typically store five to nine items, according to "Memory Loss & the Brain," a newsletter from the Memory Disorders Project at Rutgers University. Long-term memory has markedly more storage capacity and contains personal memories, behaviors and facts. Long-term memory depends upon how well the memory was stored and how often it is recalled, according to the University of Southern California. Memories that are "exercised" more often will be more vivid and easy to remember.
Duration
The names long-term and short-term memory may give a hint as to the duration memories are held. Short-term memories do not have to disappear quickly--rehearsing these memories can allow a person to retain them. An example would be a student cramming for a test. A person can remember short-term information for a few days--but as soon as the test is over, she is likely to forget it, according to "Memory Loss & the Brain." However, if she keeps reviewing the information, it can be stored in long-term memory, which can last for many years but requires frequent recollection for maintenance.
References
- American Academy of Family Physicians: Memory Loss with Aging: What's Normal, What's Not
- "Memory Loss & the Brain"; Glossary; Catherine E. Myers; 2006
- PubMed.gov: "Progress in Brain Research"; What Are the Differences Between Long-Term, Short-Term, and Working Memory? N. Cowan; 2008
- University of Southern California: Memory: The Long and Short of It
- Georgia Institute of Technology: Human Memory
