Short-term memory (noun)
Definition:Short-term memory refers to the ability to hold and remember information for a short period of time, usually just a few seconds to a couple of minutes. It is what you can repeat or recall immediately after seeing or hearing something.
Usage Instructions: You can use "short-term memory" when talking about how we remember things for a brief time. It is often discussed in psychology and neuroscience, but you can also use it in everyday conversations when referring to how well someone can remember recent information.
Example: - “When I heard the phone number, I used my short-term memory to repeat it back to my friend right away.”
Advanced Usage: In more advanced contexts, short-term memory is often contrasted with long-term memory. Short-term memory is limited in capacity, typically able to hold about 7 items (like numbers or words) at once. This is known as Miller's Law, named after psychologist George A. Miller.
Word Variants: - Short-term (adjective) – used to describe something that lasts for a limited time. - Example: "I made a short-term plan to study for the test." - Memory (noun) – the mental faculty of retaining and recalling past experiences. - Example: "My memory of that event is very clear."
Different Meaning:While "short-term memory" specifically refers to a type of memory, the word “memory” on its own can refer to the general ability to remember, or it can describe specific memories (like a happy memory from childhood).
Synonyms: - Immediate memory - Working memory (though this can refer to a slightly different concept that involves actively manipulating information)
Idioms:There are no direct idioms related specifically to "short-term memory," but you might hear phrases like: - "In one ear and out the other" – meaning someone does not remember what they just heard.
Phrasal Verbs:There are no specific phrasal verbs associated with "short-term memory," but you can use verbs like "remember," "recall," or "forget" in relation to it.