A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF
SHORT TERM AND LONG TERM MEMORY BETWEEN ATHLETE AND NON ATHLETE
Dr.
GOPAL CHANDRA SAHA
Assistant Professor
and AFC ‘C’ licensed Coach,
Post Graduate Govt.
Institute for Physical
Education, Banipur,
743233, West Bengal State University, West Bengal, India.
Mob: 9433257782
SHANTANU
HALDER
Research
Scholar,
Dept.of Physical Education,
University of Kalyani.
PULEN
DAS
M.P.Ed Research
Scholar,
Post graduate Govt. Institute
for Physical Education,
Banipur, West Bengal, India.
ABSTRACT
The
aim of this study was to compare the Short Term Memory and Long Term Memory of
Athlete and non Athlete. One hundred college boys (50 Athlete participated in
inter-college tournament and 50 non Athlete) from different colleges of north 24 district
in West Bengal were considered for this study whose age range between 22 to 25
years. Only, Short Term and Long Term memory were measured for this study. Standard
questionnaires were used for this study. The statistical ‘t’ test was applied
to investigate the existence of significant difference in Short Term Memory and
Long Term Memory between Athlete and non Athlete.
In conclusion Athlete
performed better in the both tests i.e. Short Term Memory and Long Term Memory in
comparison to non Athlete and the difference was statistically significant.
Exercise not only gives healthy life style but also improve memory function. so
regular exercise is strongly recommended.
KEY
WORDS: Short term memory, Long term memory, College students
INTRODUCTION
Memory
is one of the most important cognitive domains with respect to everyday function
and is the process of storing, encoding, and retrieving information. Different
forms of memory are recognized, including sensory, short-term, long-term, and
working memory (Baddeley, 1996). Short-term memory refers to the function that
temporarily retains stimuli that have just been perceived. Its capacity is
limited in terms of the number of items that can be stored and lasts for 20 seconds.
Through repetition, information may be transferred from short-term memory to
long-term memory. Long-term memory refers to information that is represented on
a more permanent basis. Unlike short-term memory, long-term memory has no known
limits to capacity and is relatively durable. Working memory is a short-term
memory system that allows concurrent retention and manipulation of information
(Baddeley, 1986). It is used for thinking about what is already known and for
deriving conclusions on the basis of that knowledge; therefore, working memory
is fundamental to successful completion of many activities.
More
recently, Rolls (2000) described four types of brain systems that are involved
in different types of memory. These systems are based on the use of functional
magnetic resonance imaging to study neuronal operations in various parts of the
brain. One system involves the primate orbit frontal cortex and amygdale, which
represents the learning stimulus-reinforce associations and is involved in
motivation and emotion. The second system is in the temporal cortical visual
areas. This is involved in learning representations of objects that don’t
change with respect to size or view. A third system in the hippocampus is
implicated in remembering specific events (i.e., episodic memory). In the
fourth area, brain systems in the frontal and temporal cortices are involved in
short term memory.
Memory
is the explicit or implicit recall of information encoded in the recent or
distant past. Current conceptualizations of memory, however, do not view the
construct as a unitary system but rather divide it into hierarchical taxonomic
modules based on duration of retention and the type of information that is
being retrieved. Among the more fully elucidated conceptualizations of memory
systems is one characterized by Larry Squire and colleagues, in which long-term
memory is divided into declarative and non declarative sub components.
Declarative, or explicit, memory refers to the ability to consciously recall
facts (semantic memory), events (episodic memory), or perceptual information
(perceptual memory). Non declarative memory requires the implicit recall of
information and is usually divided into procedural, priming, or simple
conditioning paradigms. Information that is retained on the order of seconds or
minutes is usually referred to as short-term memory and is thought to represent
a memory system distinct from long-term memory. Working memory, which comprises
short-term memory, refers to the short-term store required to perform certain
mental operations during retention.
Findings
have suggested that adult brain continues to generate new neurons in response
to exercise in the hippocampus (Praag et al., 1999 and Churchill et al., 2002).
Hippocampus receives information from each of the sensory modalities and
projects widely throughout the brain (Swanson et al., 1983) .This area is best
known for its role in learning and memory ( Wittenberg et al., 2002) . Exercise has also been shown to enhance
hippocampus cholinergic functioning (Fordyce et.al., 1991). Several studies
have suggested that exercise influences the levels of the amines and endorphins
in the body and these changes can have a positive influence on cognitive
functions. Thus, higher levels of norephinephrine, catecholamine, serotonin and
other neurotransmitters might have contributed to the beneficial effects of
exercise on cognitive performance abilities (Etnier et al., 1995 and Cotman
et.al 2002). Samorajski and et al have found that exercise increased latency in
middle and old aged significantly and has the lowest effect on adult mice
(Samorajski et al., 1985). Study of Radak et al. have showed that middle aged
exercised rats had a significantly better short-term and long-term memory than
age matched control rats (Radak et.al., 2001). Conversely, Radak et al.
conducted another case-control study, in which exercise did not significantly
alter the memory retrieval and latency compared with control group (Radak Z et al.,
2001).
Therefore,
the main objective of this study was to compare the Short Term Memory and Long
Term Memory of Athlete and non Athlete college students.
DEFINATION OF THE
TERMS
SHORT TERM MEMORY
Short-term
memory, also known as primary or active memory, is the information we are
currently aware of or thinking about. In Freudian psychology, this memory would
be referred to as the conscious mind. The information found in short
term memory comes from paying attention to sensory memories.
Most of
the information kept in short-term memory will be stored for approximately 20
to 30 seconds, but it can be just seconds if rehearsal or active maintenance of
the information is prevented. While many of our short-term memories are quickly
forgotten, attending to this information allows it to continue on the next
stage - long-term memory (http://psychology.about.com/od/memory/f/short-term-memory.htm).
Short-term memory resides in the
inside (medial) of the temporal lobe called the hippocampus and entorhinal
cortex, and lasts a few minutes to a few weeks before being erased. When you
try to recall a conversation or a phone number learned a few minutes to a few
weeks ago, these brain areas are activated.
LONG TERM MEMORY
Long-term
memory refers to the continuing storage of information. In Freudian psychology,
long-term memory would be call the preconscious and unconscious. This information is largely
outside of our awareness, but can be called into working memory to be used when
needed. Some of this information is fairly easy to recall, while other memories
are much more difficult to access.
Through
the process of association and rehearsal, the content of short-term memory can become long-term memory.
While long-term memory is also susceptible to the forgetting process, long-term
memories can last for a matter of days to as long as many decades.(http://psychology.about.com/od/memory/f/long-term-memory.htm).
Long-term memory can last a
lifetime though scientists are not yet certain which brain areas are involved
in this function. Well-learned facts such as the name of a school one attended
as a child are stored as long-term memories.
Standard
questionnaire were used for the collection of data. Two questionnaires were
used for this study one was Short Term Memory and other one was Long Term
Memory. Short Term Memory and Long Term
Memory Test scale
used for this study was prepared by B.B.Asthana (1982)
SUBJECT:
In this
study One
hundred college boys (50 Athlete participated in inter-college tournament and
50 non Athlete) from different colleges
of north 24 district in West Bengal were randomly
selected, whose age range from 22 to 25 years.
TEST/TOOLS:
LONG TERM MEMORY TEST (L.T.M.)
Long Term Memory scale was
designed by B. B. Asthana (1982). L.T.M.
Scale find out the effect of rehearsal of paired –associates on the long
term memory of the subject when tested after two minutes of interpolated task.
Higher percentage of recall indicates better performance and lower percentage
indicates poor performance.
SHORT TERM MEMORY TEST (S.T.M.)
Short
Term Memory scale was designed by B. B. Asthana (1982). S.T.M. scale study the effect of different
time intervals and association values on short term recall. Higher percentage
of recall indicates better performance and lower percentage indicates poor
performance.
STATISTICAL PROCEDURE
The
statistical ‘t’ test was applied to investigate the existence of significant
difference between Athlete and non Athlete on their memory performance.
FINDINGS
TABLE
-1
SIGNIFICANCE OF
DIFFERENCE OF MEANS AND STANDARD DEVIATIONS IN SHORT TERM MEMORY BETWEEN ATHLETE
AND NON ATHLETE
*Significant at
0.05 level
‘t’ value required to be significant
at 0.05 level of confidence with 98 degree of freedom
was 1.98.
TABLE
-2
SIGNIFICANCE OF
DIFFERENCE OF MEANS AND STANDARD DEVIATIONS IN LONG TERM MEMORY BETWEEN ATHLETE
AND NON ATHLETE
*Significant at
0.05 level
‘t’ value required to be significant at 0.05
level of confidence with 98 degree of freedom
was 1.98.
Fig- 01: COMPARISON OF
MEANS IN SHORT
TERM MEMORY AND LONG TERM MEMORY BETWEEN ATHLETE AND NON ATHLETE
This
study aimed to compare the Short Term Memory and Long Term Memory of Athlete
and non Athlete. It was found from the above statistical
calculation that Athlete performed better in the both tests i.e. Short Term
Memory and Long Term Memory than that of non Athlete and the difference was
statistically significant.
Some researchers supported the present study. P.
Perrig-Chiello et al., 1998 found
positive relationships between physical exercise and function, Hakimeh Saadati et.al showed that short term
and long term exercise training enhanced learning and memory performance significantly, Saadati et.al 2010, suggested that that physical activity promoted learning and
memory consolidation, Radak et al. have showed
that middle aged exercised rats had a significantly better short-term and
long-term memory than age matched control rats. Other studies have shown that
long term potentiation (LTP) and memory function are elevated after exercise (Samorajski et.al 1985, Van Praag et al., 1999
and Lee MH et al., 2005).
Findings
have suggested that adult brain continues to generate new neurons in response
to exercise in the hippocampus (Praag et al., 1999 and Churchill et.al 2002).
Hippocampus receives information from each of the sensory modalities and
projects widely throughout the brain(Swanson et.al 1983).This area is best
known for its role in learning and memory(Wittenberg et al., 2002). Exercise
has also been shown to enhance hippocampus cholinergic functioning (Fordyce et al.,
1991). Several studies have suggested
that exercise influences the levels of the amines and endorphins in the body
and these changes can have a positive influence on cognitive functions.
Maintaining brain health and plasticity
throughout life is an important public health
goal. It is increasingly clear
that behavioural stimulation and exercise can help us to achieve it. Over
the
past decade, a number of studies on humans have shown the benefits of exercise
on brain health
and function, particularly in aging populations (Ivy et al.,
2001). It has been previously reported that
running enhances neurogenesis,
levels of brain–derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and other growth factors and
neurotransmitters especially in the hippocampus (Honma, 1986). In addition,
hippocampal-dependent learning may enhance survival of cells prior to spatial
training (Nibuya et al., 1995). Moreover, exercise and training programme
improves memory function so regular exercise programme is strongly recommended
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