特别广播英语第 21 课：Short-term Memory 短时记忆-1

There are two kinds of memory: short-term and long-term. 有两种记忆：短时记忆和长时记忆。

Information in long-term memory can be recalled at a later time when it is needed. 处于长期记忆中的信息，在后来需要的时候能够回想起来。

The information may be kept for days or weeks. 这一信息可以保持数天或数周。

Sometimes information in the long-term memory is hard to remember. 有时处于长时记忆中的信息很难记起。

Students taking exams often have this experience. 参加考试的学生经常会有这种经历。

In contrast, information in short-term memory is kept for only a few seconds, usually by repeating the information over and over. 反之，短时记忆中的信息只能保持三两秒钟，通常还得再三复习这一信息。

For example, you look up a number in the telephone book, and before you dial, you repeat the number over and over. 例如，你在一本电话号码簿中查到一个号码，在你还没拨号之前，你得再三复习这一号码。

If someone interrupts you, you will probably forget the number. 如果这时有人打扰了你，你也许会把这个电话号码忘了。

In laboratory studies, subjects are unable to remember three letters after eighteen seconds if they are not allowed to repeat the letters to themselves. 通过实验研究表明，如果不准被测试的人复习，那么十八秒以后，被测试的人连三个字母都记不住。