Memory Systems in Sport Performance
Let's dive into how our brain processes and stores information during sports performance through three distinct memory systems. Understanding these systems is crucial for athletes and coaches as it directly impacts skill acquisition and performance.
Short-Term Sensory Store (STSS)
The STSS is like your brain's high-speed camera, capturing everything in your environment for a split second.
Key characteristics:
- Holds sensory information for 0.25-2 seconds
- Has enormous capacity but very brief duration
- Operates automatically without conscious control
- Specific to each sensory channel (visual, auditory, tactile)
In tennis, when your opponent serves, your STSS captures:
- The visual image of the ball's trajectory
- The sound of the ball hitting the racket
- The position of your opponent All this information is held briefly before being filtered for relevance
Short-Term Memory (STM)
STM acts as your brain's workbench where immediate processing occurs.
Key characteristics:
- Limited capacity (7±2 items)
- Information lasts 15-30 seconds without rehearsal
- Active processing and manipulation of information
- Can be maintained through rehearsal
Athletes can improve their STM capacity by chunking information. Instead of remembering individual movements, group them into meaningful sequences.
Long-Term Memory (LTM)
LTM is your brain's permanent storage system, like a vast library of skills and experiences.
