short-term memory

noun

: memory that involves recall of information for a relatively short time (such as a few seconds)

But short-term memory is the primary bottleneck in human information processing. Only a few items—the usual estimate is seven, plus or minus two—can be held in mind at once, and the items are immediately subject to fading or being overwritten.

—Steven Pinker

—abbreviation STM compare long-term memory, working memory

Examples of short-term memory in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Puzzles, along with other games, foster new brain connections, stimulate cognitive functions, help with short-term memory and improve visual-spatial reasoning. —Dawn McMullan, Dallas News, 23 Mar. 2023

The erosion of his short-term memory, Mr. Jalone said, led to outbursts of frustrated anger. —Robert Draper, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1948, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

short-term memory

noun

: memory that involves recall of information for a relatively short time (as a few seconds)

The standard view, repeated in almost every psychology textbook, is that the ordinary limit on short-term memory is for seven or so bits of information—the length of a phone number.

—Daniel Goleman, The New York Times

Short-term memory is closely linked to working memory, and the two terms are often used interchangeably. There is a difference, however: short-term memory refers to the passive storage and recall of information from the immediate past, whereas working memory refers to the active processes involved in manipulating this information.

—Jonathan K. Foster, New Scientist

—abbreviation STM compare long-term memory