What memory concept is exemplified by adding new information onto existing knowledge?

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Study for the University of Central Florida EXP3604 Cognitive Psychology Final Exam. Use flashcards and multiple choice questions with hints and explanations to prepare effectively. Ace your exam!

The concept exemplified by adding new information onto existing knowledge aligns with the idea of working memory. Working memory is a temporary storage system that allows us to hold and manipulate information for brief periods, facilitating reasoning, comprehension, and learning. It operates by integrating new information with what is already known, which is crucial for various cognitive tasks such as problem-solving and understanding complex ideas.

In contrast, long-term memory serves as a more permanent repository of information, where we store facts, experiences, and skills over extended periods. Short-term memory, on the other hand, typically retains information for only seconds to minutes, and while it can hold new data temporarily, it does not actively integrate or manipulate those details in the same way that working memory does. Echoic memory is specifically related to the brief retention of auditory information, lasting only a few seconds, and is not focused on the integration of knowledge.

Thus, the nature of working memory as a dynamic system for combining and expanding upon knowledge makes it the most fitting answer in this context.