short-term memory
Brief mental storage
Short-term memory is the brain's capacity to hold small amounts of information briefly—typically seconds to minutes.
It's what lets you remember a phone number long enough to dial it, or keep track of what someone just said.
Distinct from long-term memory, which stores information indefinitely, short-term memory has limited capacity and duration.
I have terrible short-term memory—I walked into the kitchen and forgot why.
Dividing into manageable parts
- encodingConverting data to format
- retrievalAct of getting back
- storageSpace for keeping goods
- capacityMaximum amount containable
rehearsal · maintenance · echoic · iconic · decay · interference · displacement · buffer
Failure to retain information
- amnesiaPathological loss of recall
- distractionThing diverting one's attention
- lapseBrief failure or expiration
- fugueContrapuntal musical form
decay · interference · blocking · absent-mindedness · cognitive decline · concussion · dementia · aging
Continued holding or possession
- mnemonicsTechniques to assist recall
- studyDeliberate learning effort
- comprehensionMental understanding of meaning
- acquisitionAct of obtaining something
assimilation · rote · recall · repetition · practice · cramming · flashcards · spaced repetition
Focused mental awareness
- focusConcentrated attention point
- concentrationSustained single-minded attention
- cognitive loadDemands on working memory
- executive functionCognitive self-management abilities
processing · awareness · perception · vigilance · alertness · mental rehearsal · consciousness · cognitive psychology
Memory formation region
- prefrontal cortexBrain's planning and impulse center
- neural circuitsInterconnected signaling cell pathways
- synapsesNeuron-to-neuron transmission points
- brain activityMental processes occurring
neuroplasticity · neurons · brain regions · neural pathways · frontal lobe · temporal lobe · neurotransmitters · brain imaging
chunking
Dividing into manageable parts
capacity · rehearsal · maintenance · echoic · iconic · decay · interference · displacement · buffer · information processing
forgetfulness
Failure to retain information
- amnesiaPathological loss of recall
- distractionThing diverting one's attention
- lapseBrief failure or expiration
fugue · decay · interference · blocking · absent-mindedness · cognitive decline · concussion · dementia · aging · brain fog
retention
Continued holding or possession
- mnemonicsTechniques to assist recall
- studyDeliberate learning effort
- comprehensionMental understanding of meaning
acquisition · assimilation · rote · recall · repetition · practice · cramming · flashcards · spaced repetition · association
attention
Focused mental awareness
- focusConcentrated attention point
- concentrationSustained single-minded attention
- cognitive loadDemands on working memory
executive function · processing · awareness · perception · vigilance · alertness · mental rehearsal · consciousness · cognitive psychology
hippocampus
Memory formation region
- prefrontal cortexBrain's planning and impulse center
- neural circuitsInterconnected signaling cell pathways
- synapsesNeuron-to-neuron transmission points
brain activity · neuroplasticity · neurons · brain regions · neural pathways · frontal lobe · temporal lobe · neurotransmitters · brain imaging · fMRI
- memory testsword recall, name recall, face recognition
- memoryforget, recall, recollect, retain, forgetfulness
- memory termsremembering, recollection, flashback, recall, reminiscence
- memory trainingmnemonics, card matching, flashcards, concentration, pairs
- Neuropsychologycognition, cognitive test, executive function, attention, brain injury
- mental limitscognitive load, cognitive overload, mental fatigue, attention span, capacity limit