Memory function and short-term store as a psychological construct : Implications of a working memory framework(Multidisciplinary perspectives on human memory,Symposium 2 at the 24th Annual Meeting)

抄録

It is generally believed that memory stores as psychological constructs are distinguishable from other cognitive mechanisms, such as language processing systems. One such memory system might be a short-term store (STS), which is a putative construct assumed to retain small amounts of information for a short period of time. In this article, I discuss two lines of research in relation to this construct. One indicates that some data in the working memory literature can be explained without postulating a STS, suggesting its redundancy in our cognitive system, and the other suggests the importance of STS in explaining observed phenomena. The first line includes studies on working memory span tests and the second includes those on the role of the phonological loop in long-term learning. I distinguish two situations: one in which retention over the short term is required and one in which we must assume the presence of STS, a dedicated system for temporary storage over the short term.