A Guide to Understanding Short-Term Memory [w/ Examples]

Short-term memory is the temporary storage of your brain, where information is first held before it is manipulated, processed, or consolidated. As a result, it’s a crucial concept in psychology and an essential cognitive skill.

To help you understand what it is exactly, how it differs from long-term and working memory, and why it’s important, we’ve consulted our experts and asked them to share their insights.

Here is what we’ve learned.

Key Takeaways

• In psychology, short-term memory is a capacity that allows you to store information briefly—usually up to 30 seconds.
• Short-term memory is essential for everyday functioning, as you wouldn’t be able to communicate, follow instructions, plan, learn, or make decisions without it.
• Short-term memories become long-term memories through the repetition of specific information and actively thinking about it.
• Short-term memory loss can result from Alzheimer’s disease, alcohol abuse, sleep deprivation, or mental disorders, and this capacity also declines with age.

What Is Short-Term Memory?

Short-term memory is a core cognitive skill that allows you to briefly store small pieces of information—usually only for a few seconds. In conjunction with long-term and working memory, it is a crucial capability without which normal functioning wouldn’t be possible.

Considering that it’s the first storage information is kept when we perceive it, short-term memory is also known as “primary” or “active” memory. The “active” part stems from the fact that the information held in short-term memory is readily available for use as long as it’s stored there.

Although short-term memory has a highly limited storage capacity and can’t hold information for too long, it plays an important role in all aspects of everyday life.

For example, you wouldn’t be able to hold a conversation, run simple errands, or keep track of things you’ve seen and heard if your short-term memory was significantly impaired.

It’s important to note that short-term memory doesn’t work alone in this—working memory is just as crucial for everyday functioning. These two concepts are often mixed up and used interchangeably, but most experts agree that there are significant differences between them.

How Long Does Short-Term Memory Last?

How Long Does Short Term Memory Last?

Short-term memory lasts approximately 20–30 seconds, though it’s often much briefer than that. Occasionally, information can be stored in short-term memory for up to a minute, but for the most part, it quickly decays.

To prevent information from decaying, you can repeat it from time to time or say it out loud. That way, you prolong its stay in short-term memory and may even encourage its transfer to long-term memory.

However, short-term memory isn’t only limited in terms of duration but also capacity. In fact, it’s believed that it can hold approximately seven items at a time, give or take two.

This idea was first proposed by cognitive psychologist George A. Miller in his famous article The Magical Number Seven, Plus or Minus Two. As a result, his discoveries on the capacity of short-term memory are often referred to as Miller's law.

Short-Term Memory’s Capacity: Further Limitations

Even this limited capacity of short-term memory can be further decreased if you are exposed to other stimuli when you’re trying to memorize specific information.

This is particularly true when the stimuli and the information are of a similar nature. For instance, when you’re memorizing a phone number, and you hear or see other numbers, you’re likely to mix the two up and forget both much faster.

The Importance of Short-Term Memory

Short-term memory is important for normal functioning in daily life—without it, you wouldn’t be able to memorize what you’ve just heard or read, where you left a specific item, or what parts of a particular task you completed.

In addition, short-term memory contributes to other essential cognitive functions, such as communication, language comprehension, learning, planning, and problem-solving. When it’s impaired, all these skills suffer, causing general cognitive difficulties.

Short-Term Memory Examples

The following examples of short-term memory in daily life will help you understand its role and importance in everyday life, as well as illustrate how short-term memory actually manifests itself.

#1. Remembering a Name

short term memory examples - remembering names

It’s thanks to short-term memory that you can remember a person’s name after they first introduce themselves—it allows you to hold that information for a brief period.

For the most part, names will quickly be consolidated into long-term memory as we use and hear them frequently. However, if you only hear someone’s name once and never meet them again, you’ll likely forget it, just like all other information you don’t rehearse.

#2. Writing Down a Phone Number

an image of phone digits

Memorizing a phone number for as long as it takes to write it down is a perfect example of short-term memory. Unless the number is very simple or you repeat it a few times, you’ll likely forget all the digits as soon as you’ve put them on paper or saved them in your phone.

#3. Following Instructions

an image of a sign on a fence and how following instructions helps with short term memory

Your short-term memory is the reason you don’t need to have step-by-step instructions before your eyes at all times as you perform a certain task. After all, you are able to memorize simple guidelines and keep them in mind until you’re done following them. Afterward, they will likely disappear from your brain.

#4. Reading a Book

an image of a woman reading a book

When you read a book, all three types of memory work together to make sense of the text before you.

First, we have long-term memory, which contains all your semantic knowledge and experience that might help you interpret the message the book is trying to send.

Then, there is short-term memory, which stores the words and sentences as you read them and holds them in your mind for as long as it takes for your brain to decipher them.

Finally, working memory draws on long-term memory, connects your semantic knowledge to the text stored in your short-term memory, and, in doing so, helps you decode the meanings and understand what you are reading.

How Short-Term Memory Becomes Long-Term Memory

To understand how short-term memory becomes long-term memory, we must first briefly review the Atkinson-Shiffrin model of memory, which is currently the most accepted view in psychology.

According to this model, there are three stages of memory: sensory memory, short-term memory, and long-term memory.

Sensory memory lasts only several seconds, and we discard most of the information that reaches it immediately. However, the information that we actually pay attention to moves to short-term memory, and then, if it’s consolidated, it transfers into long-term memory.

Unlike short-term memory, long-term memory is unlimited and may last for hours, days, weeks, or even a lifetime. For example, the memory of your first day in school is stored in long-term memory (more specifically, episodic memory) and can stay there for decades.

But how did that memory end up in your long-term memory anyway? Psychologists believe short-term memories become long-term through repetition and active thinking about specific information or an event.

As a result, the neural networks responsible for memorizing that specific information grow stronger, which ensures the information doesn’t disappear after 30 seconds as it would otherwise. This process is known as memory consolidation.

Techniques That Boost Memory Consolidation

Techniques that boost memory consolidation and speed up the transfer between short-term and long-term memory include:

• Rehearsal. Every student is familiar with this method; after all, it’s no secret that the more you repeat certain information, the better you will remember it.
• Chunking. When information is organized in groups, it’s often much easier to remember than otherwise. This is useful when trying to remember numbers—memorizing number 572942 is harder than memorizing 572 and 942 separately.
• Mnemonics. Mnemonics are simple devices that make information more digestible and thus more likely to be committed to long-term memory. The most famous example of a mnemonic device is the ABC song children learn to memorize the alphabet.

Short-Term Memory vs. Working Memory

an image of a person holding his head thinking about short term memory

Short-term memory and working memory are often used interchangeably, especially among laymen who often don’t know the difference.

And, to be fair, the two types of memory are very similar; they both last up to 30 seconds, have a capacity of approximately seven items, and store information only as long as it’s necessary to complete a certain task.

However, there is one crucial difference—working memory doesn’t only store but also allows for manipulation of the information and applies it to complete certain tasks. Short-term memory doesn’t do this; its purpose is only to briefly hold information.

As a result, many experts believe that short-term memory is only an aspect of working memory rather than an entirely separate concept. Basically, it stores information that working memory then manipulates, organizes, and connects to other pieces of information.

It’s important to note that working memory doesn’t only draw information from short-term memory. Instead, it has access to long-term memory, too, and it can extract and manipulate that information as well.

Short-Term Memory Loss: Explained

Short-term memory loss is characterized by forgetfulness related to the information you just learned and events that just occurred.

Of course, everyone can experience a bout of absent-mindedness from time to time, especially those over the age of 65. However, if it’s not going away and it’s seriously affecting your life, your short-term memory may be impaired.

Here are some common signs of short-term memory loss:

• Forgetting what you just said
• Getting lost in familiar places
• Difficulty remembering recent events
• A general feeling of cognitive fogginess
• Asking the same questions repeatedly
• Trouble following directions or instructions
• Confusion about the day of the week or date
• Losing and misplacing things (keys, phone, wallet)

If you frequently experience these symptoms over a longer period of time, you should consult your doctor and see what steps you should take to improve your short-term memory.

4 Factors That Affect Short-Term Memory

Factors that affect short-term memory include Alzheimer’s disease, alcohol abuse, sleep deprivation, and mental disorders such as anxiety and depression.

Below, we examine all of these in more detail.

#1. Alzheimer’s

Alzheimer's cause short term memory problems

Short-term memory loss is one of the earliest symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, a common type of dementia that usually affects people older than 65.

In simple terms, Alzheimer’s affects the normal functioning of the brain by damaging neurons, which, over time, leads to their death and the loss of brain volume.

At the disease’s onset, patients tend to repeat themselves and forget recent conversations and events. However, as it progresses, their general cognitive abilities deteriorate, and they struggle to socialize, think clearly, make decisions, or perform activities they used to enjoy.

Unfortunately, there is no known cure for Alzheimer’s. Currently, the disease’s progression can be slowed down using medication, but it can’t be entirely stopped.

#2. Alcohol Abuse

an image of a alcohol glass spilled from putting it on the table

When drunk in excessive amounts, alcohol slows down the hippocampus, part of the brain responsible for thinking and memorizing, and disrupts the creation of short-term memories. As a result, a night of binge drinking is usually followed by a blackout and an inability to remember any details.

However, if you regularly drink too much, it might not end with only occasional blackouts. Instead, you could develop alcohol-related dementia, a condition that significantly impacts your short-term memory, working memory, and cognition as a whole.

#3. Sleep Deprivation

a person asleep having problems with short term memory

During sleep, the brain goes through several cycles that help it regenerate, consolidate memories, and remove toxins and dead neurons that build up during the day. As a result, when you wake up after a good night’s sleep, you feel refreshed and ready to take on new cognitive challenges.

On the other hand, when you don’t sleep enough, there isn’t enough time for your brain to properly rest and perform the necessary preparations for the new day. Consequently, your cognitive abilities, along with short-term memory, can’t reach their full potential.

#4. Anxiety/Depression

an image of a woman holding her head confused

Anxiety and depression are often accompanied by mental exhaustion and brain fog, which affect cognition and make it difficult to process and memorize information.

In fact, people who suffer from these mental disorders sometimes struggle to think clearly and often forget things—usually because their minds are preoccupied with negative thoughts, worry, and feelings of helplessness.

As a result, it’s much harder for them to focus on specific information enough to commit it to short-term memory, and even when they do, the information decays quickly.

Test Your Short-Term Memory

Although there’s no specific test dedicated to short-term memory, as a core cognitive skill, it can be measured on an IQ test. So, if you’re curious about your short-term memory’s capacity, you can test it for free with our professionally designed IQtest.net, which has been expertly optimized for reliability and accuracy.

In addition, if you feel that your memory could use a boost, we have an assortment of memory games you can try. Use them to exercise your brain, then check your progress by retaking the test—you’re bound to see an improvement.

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Final Thoughts

Short-term memory may be limited, but it’s actually a crucial part of a very sophisticated system.

It allows you to hold information as you perform a certain task, yet discards it as soon as you’re done. That way, your brain isn’t overburdened with unnecessary information, and it can easily switch its focus between tasks.

So, it’s important to keep your short-term memory in good shape by maintaining a lifestyle that promotes cognitive health and avoiding anything that could damage it.

Also, don’t forget to challenge it using memory games or practice IQ tests—those can do wonders for your cognition overall.