Optimizing Short-Term Memory retention: Factors that Influence Information Retention Duration

You are introduced to someone at a party. While talking with the person, you realize that you have already forgotten the person’s name. What amount of time does it typically take before such information is lost from short-term memory

typically between 12-30 seconds

The amount of time it takes for information to be lost from short-term memory can vary based on different factors. Typically, it is assumed that short-term memory can hold information for around 20 to 30 seconds, without active rehearsal or without transferring it to long-term memory.

However, this duration may differ depending on factors such as how much attention we paid to the information initially, how complex the information was, and how much we try to rehearse or work with the information in the short-term memory system. In the scenario described, if you met the person and there were no other intervening activities or distractions, the information about their name could be retained for 20-30 seconds. However, if you were engaged in a conversation with the individual and tried to connect with them in different ways, that might extend the duration of retention.

Overall, it’s important to transfer essential information from short-term memory to long-term memory through rehearsal or associations for more extended storage and later retrieval.

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