What is Short-Term Memory?

Your brain's sticky note for things you need right now

Short-term memory is your brain's sticky note. It holds onto information just long enough for you to do something with it, then lets it go. It's the mental buffer between sensing something and either using it or filing it away. Without it, every moment would feel like starting from scratch.

Source

Cowan, N. (2008). What are the differences between long-term, short-term, and working memory? Progress in Brain Research, 169, 323–338.

In real life...

If you need to hold something in short-term memory a little longer, try saying it out loud or under your breath. This 'articulatory rehearsal' re-enters the information through your auditory system, essentially resetting the clock on that mental sticky note.

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