| Short-term memory, sometimes referred to as | | | | Among the different forms of memory known to us, |
| "primary," "working," or "active" memory, is said to | | | | there is short term memory that is distinct from long |
| hold a small amount of information for about 20 | | | | term memory and also sensory memory. Short term |
| seconds. Estimates of short-term memory capacity | | | | memory is that type of memory that allows us to |
| vary - from about 3 or 4 elements (i.e., words, digits, | | | | recall things from just a few seconds ago, or even |
| or letters) to about 9 elements: a commonly cited | | | | from as long as a minute back, and it is also normal |
| capacity is 7-2 elements. In contrast, long-term | | | | for short term memory to allow storage of just four |
| memory indefinitely stores a seemingly unlimited | | | | or five objects, though this number may go up |
| amount of information. Short-term memory can be | | | | depending on what is known as chunking. Thus, with |
| described as the capacity (or capacities) for holding in | | | | chunking, when you see a group of letters ordered in |
| mind, in an active, highly available state, a small | | | | rows rather in scrambled form, it allows us to |
| amount of information. The information held in | | | | remember those groups of letters a lot longer than in |
| short-term memory may be: | | | | the case of merely scrambled letters. |
| - recently processed sensory input; | | | | When estimating the duration of time that short |
| - items recently retrieved from long-term memory; or | | | | term memory can hold information, it is necessary to |
| - the result of recent mental processing, although | | | | understand that there could only are three to four |
| that is more generally related to the concept of | | | | elements such as words, letters or digits that can be |
| working memory. | | | | stored, though it could even increase to as many as |
| The relationship between short-term memory and | | | | nine elements, which is in stark contrast to long term |
| working memory is differently described by various | | | | memory in which information is stored and recalled |
| theorists, but it is generally acknowledged that the | | | | over years, and the amount of information recalled |
| two concepts are distinct. Working memory is a | | | | can also be almost unlimited. In other words, it would |
| theoretical framework that refers to structures and | | | | not be wrong to describe short term memory as |
| processes used for temporarily storing and | | | | being the capacity for retaining in the mind which is in |
| manipulating information. As such, working memory | | | | an active state a tiny amount of data or information |
| might also be referred to as working attention. | | | | that include things such as recently processed |
| Short-term memory generally refers in a | | | | sensory contribution, information or items that were |
| theory-neutral manner to the short term storage of | | | | recently retrieved from long term memory and finally, |
| information. Thus while there are short-term memory | | | | they could be results of some mental processing that |
| components to working memory models, the | | | | just took place, though this form of information may |
| concept of short-term memory is distinct from these | | | | better by processed by working memory. |
| more hypothetical concepts. | | | | Furthermore, it has been found that all memories |
| When trying to understand more about memory, it | | | | actually pass from short term memory to long term |
| pays to first consider what the nature of memory is | | | | memory after the passage of a certain amount of |
| and also its various functions, as too the ways and | | | | time, though there is as yet no definite knowledge |
| means in which it can be used in our daily lives. | | | | available as to how the mechanism that transfers |
| Memory is a process by which a human being or | | | | information from short term memory to long term |
| other living organism can store and retain as well as | | | | memory actually functions. Thus, it is safe to say |
| subsequently retrieve or recollect pieces of | | | | that any tiny piece of information that remains in |
| information, and, in addition, it also pays to | | | | your mind immediately after you first encountered |
| understand the working of memory and learn its | | | | such information, is stored in short term memory, |
| various classifications that themselves are based on | | | | and all others are either stored in working memory, |
| type of information, duration and also the methods | | | | or in long term memory, or even in sensory memory. |
| by which they are retrieved. | | | | |