Exploring the Characteristics of Human Memory and Their Significance in Displaying Information Graphically
Sensory memory and short-term memory play pivotal roles in processing and understanding visual information in design. These memory systems enable efficient visual processing, allowing users to quickly perceive, interpret, and interact with complex design stimuli in meaningful ways.
Sensory Memory: A Brief Snapshot
Sensory memory, specifically iconic memory, holds visual information for a very brief duration (fractions of a second) just after seeing a visual stimulus. This initial storage allows the visual system to briefly retain an image long enough for the brain to begin initial processing before it either decays or transfers information to short-term memory [4].
In design, this means that when a user glances at a visual layout, sensory memory briefly captures the whole visual scene, providing a snapshot that aids in the seamless perception of the design elements before conscious attention focuses on particular details.
Short-term Memory: Active Processing
Short-term memory (also related to working memory) then takes over to hold and actively process selected visual items from sensory memory for a limited time (around 20-30 seconds) and within a limited capacity (typically about 7 ± 2 items or fewer depending on complexity) [2][4]. This enables users to maintain focus on and manipulate visual details such as color, shape, size, and spatial relationships, which are essential to interpreting and understanding the design.
Short-term memory supports attention, reasoning, and decision making about the visual scene, allowing the viewer to compare elements, recognize patterns, or follow a visual hierarchy.
Combining Forces
In combination, sensory memory provides an initial, holistic yet fleeting representation of the visual input, and short-term memory permits selective retention and active manipulation of this information for deeper understanding and interaction with the design.
For example, sensory memory briefly registers the overall layout and colors of a webpage, while short-term memory holds specific icons or text sections to compare, remember, or use in decision making while navigating.
Perceptual Constancy: Reducing Cognitive Load
Perceptual processes like perceptual constancy help maintain stable recognition of objects despite changes in viewing angle or lighting, reducing cognitive load on short-term memory by letting the brain treat objects as consistent [1]. This stability aids designers because it means users won’t need to re-process basic visual features continuously.
The Limits and Advancements of Memory
Once someone's attention moves from one image to another, the first is quickly forgotten. The capacity of short-term memory is limited, between 5 and 9 similar items at most, but can be increased through "chunking" [3]. Chunking is the grouping of items to form larger items, which increases the capacity of short-term memory.
Despite advancements in neuroscience, human memory remains largely uncharted territory. The recall of information from short-term memory is limited, and it becomes worse when asked to recall a sequence backwards [5].
Designing for Memory: The Impact of Edward Tufte
The world's leading authority in information visualization, Edward Tufte, suggests that a "super-graphic" should prompt different stories and memories in different people [6]. This approach encourages the creation of visualizations that are engaging, memorable, and capable of evoking a response, rather than simply providing data.
The vast majority of interaction between the user and an information visualization will occur in sensory and short-term memory [2]. Therefore, designers must consider these memory systems when creating visualizations to ensure they are effective and memorable.
The Path to Long-term Memory
Strong emotional or physical connections are often the easiest way for something to enter long-term memory [7]. While this article has focused on the roles of sensory and short-term memory, it's important to remember that long-term memory plays a crucial role in retaining and storing information for extended periods.
In conclusion, understanding the roles and limitations of sensory and short-term memory is essential for designers who aim to create effective visualizations that are not only informative but also memorable and engaging.
References:
- Perceptual Constancy
- The Role of Attention in Information Visualization
- Chunking: The Key to Learning and Memory
- Sensory Memory
- Short-term Memory
- Edward Tufte
- Long-term Memory
- In the realm of user interface design, incorporating elements of health-and-wellness, mental-health, nutrition, fitness-and-exercise can enhance a user's engagement and memorability, as emotions and physical associations with these topics can potentially facilitate the transfer of information from short-term to long-term memory.
- With a foundational understanding of sensory memory and short-term memory, designers have the opportunity to apply these concepts to diverse fields, such as science and beyond, fostering design solutions that optimize learning and interaction through visual cues related to scientific concepts or wellness practices.
- To create design solutions that promote mental and physical well-being, it may be beneficial for designers to explore the potential of incorporating UI elements that remind users of the relationships between nutrition, fitness, mental health, and cognitive function, as these connections can foster longer-term retention of the information and a consistent, health-focused mindset among users.
