Short-Term Memory
A temporary storage system that holds a limited amount of information for a brief period, typically 15-30 seconds without rehearsal.
Short-term memory is your brain's clipboard — it holds information just long enough to use it, then lets it go. George Miller's famous 1956 paper claimed the capacity was "7 plus or minus 2" items. Modern research has revised that down to about 4 chunks. Without actively rehearsing or encoding the information, it fades in 15-30 seconds. That's why you can forget a phone number between hearing it and dialing it. Short-term memory is distinct from working memory: short-term memory just stores data passively, while working memory actively manipulates it. But both share the same limited-capacity bottleneck. Techniques like chunking and rehearsal can dramatically extend effective capacity.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many items can short-term memory hold?
About 4 chunks of information, according to current research (revised down from Miller's classic "7 plus or minus 2"). A chunk can be a single digit, a word, or a meaningful group — that's why chunking is so effective. By grouping individual items into meaningful units, you effectively multiply your storage capacity.
How do you move information from short-term to long-term memory?
Three key mechanisms: rehearsal (repeating information), elaboration (connecting it to things you already know), and emotional significance (important or surprising information transfers more readily). Spaced repetition — reviewing at increasing intervals — is the most efficient technique for deliberate long-term encoding.