Storage and memory performance | Early detection of a dyscalculia

Storage and memory performance

The probably best known differentiation of memory forms is the distinction between short-term and long-term memory. Recent research has led to a further development of the terms, and in some cases to a new definition. Today, one distinguishes between working memory, which includes ultra-short term memory, (= new memory) and short-term memory, which stores information for a few seconds.

Both forms are not to be underestimated in the mathematical field. Especially for the short-term storage of intermediate results, memory numbers, carry-overs etc. the short-term memory is of enormous importance.

The abilities of the short-term memory are expanded over the years in the child, because they are significantly less than the abilities of an adult. With regard to the “working memory”, the working memory can be divided into two parts: One part is responsible for the processing of linguistic information, while images and ideas are absorbed by the so-called visual-spatial subgrouping. When solving mathematical tasks, the short-term or working memory is of enormous importance, since the requirements of learned computational structures usually require intermediate storage in the brain.While the structures for the solution are internalized, deepened, and bound up in the long-term memory as a structure, each solution of a task thus makes high demands on the working memory and the ability to concentrate, which is actually what makes such a form of storage possible in the first place.

There are various factors, such as (childhood) fear of failure, which can cause a blockage of the memory function. Long-term memory is also made up of several components:

• Working memory
• And the
• Long term memory.
• The declarative memory, which primarily stores information that is influenced by one’s own feelings and experiences. It is divided into the
• The semantic memory, to store facts (vocabulary) and the episodic memory, to store things that are important to you (what was I wearing yesterday? ).
• The procedural memory, which stores routinely occurring procedures. Procedural memory is therefore of special importance for mathematics teaching, since many fields of application and algorithms (writing numbers, arithmetic procedures, written arithmetic procedures) are automated and, once understood, are routinely applied and performed.