Short-term Memory

Definition

Short-term memory, also known as working memory, is the part of your memory system that holds information temporarily for processing. It has a limited capacity and can hold about 7 items for less than 30 seconds.

Related terms

Chunking:

This is a strategy used to improve memory efficiency by breaking large pieces of information into smaller, more manageable chunks.

Encoding:

The process of transforming received information into a form that can be stored in the memory.

Decay Theory:

A theory suggesting that memories fade over time due to neglect or lack of use.