Which of the following is NOT true of short-term memory?

• A. Commonly impacted by the serial position effect.
• B. It can hold a limited amount of information.
• C. Typically holds information for a short length of time.
• D. Can only process visual stimuli.

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the concept of short-term memory: Short-term memory is a part of the memory system where small amounts of information can be kept for a short period of time, typically around 20 to 30 seconds.
2. Review the serial position effect: This is a phenomenon where people tend to remember the first and last items in a series best, and the middle items worst. This effect is commonly associated with short-term memory.
3. Consider the capacity of short-term memory: Short-term memory is known to hold a limited amount of information, often cited as 7±2 items, according to Miller's Law.
4. Acknowledge the duration of short-term memory: Information in short-term memory is typically held for a brief period unless it is actively rehearsed or encoded into long-term memory.
5. Evaluate the statement about processing stimuli: Short-term memory is not limited to processing only visual stimuli; it can process auditory and other types of sensory information as well. Therefore, the statement 'Can only process visual stimuli' is NOT true of short-term memory.