What is short-term or working memory?

Short-term or working memory is best characterized as the second stage of the memory system. This stage is crucial as it allows individuals to temporarily hold and manipulate information for a brief period, typically ranging from seconds to a couple of minutes. It acts as a workspace where information can be processed, which is essential for tasks such as problem-solving, reasoning, and comprehension.

In the context of memory systems, short-term or working memory follows the sensory memory stage, where initial sensory input is briefly held before it is either discarded or transferred into short-term memory for further processing. This distinction is important since short-term memory has limited capacity and duration, making it fundamentally different from other types of memory that involve long-term retention or factual knowledge which isn’t linked to specific timelines.

In summary, understanding short-term or working memory as the second stage highlights its role in processing and utilizing information actively, a function that distinguishes it from both sensory input and long-term memory storage.