Short term memory

Short term memory is of quite limited capacity and is used to hold information in consciousness for immediate use.

Short term memory has been named working memory. It can hold a limited amount of information less than ten items for a limited period of time around 2 to 30 seconds.

It has been convincingly shown that the short term memory capacity determines the general cognitive ability levels.

To extend the time that the information is stored in the short term memory, the performer would have to rehearse the information, through imaginary or sub-verbal repetition.

Short term memory also act as an information processing unit responsible for the manipulation of symbols during problem solving and other types of cognitive activity.

The primary function of short term memory is to allow people to perform mental work such as calculating a sums or remembering a telephone number until they can either dial it or write it down.
Short term memory