Which term describes the memory system that holds a small amount of information briefly, often used in problem-solving and immediate recall?

Which term describes the memory system that holds a small amount of information briefly, often used in problem-solving and immediate recall?

• A. Long-term memory (LTM)
• B. Short-term memory (STM)
• C. Object permanence
• D. Fine motor skills

Answer: (B)

This question is about how memory stores information for immediate use. Short-term memory refers to the part of our memory system that keeps a small amount of information active for a brief period, enough to use it in the moment—like holding a phone number just long enough to dial it or keeping a few steps in mind while solving a problem. It’s limited in capacity (you might think of a handful of items) and relies on rehearsal to maintain the information long enough to act on it. This is different from long-term memory, which stores information for much longer periods, and isn’t about keeping things active for immediate tasks. In many views, the active processing and manipulation of that temporary information is called working memory, which sits inside this short-term store and is what you use when planning or computing. The other options don’t fit: object permanence is about understanding that objects exist even when not seen, and fine motor skills involve physical movement, not memory storage.

This question is about how memory stores information for immediate use. Short-term memory refers to the part of our memory system that keeps a small amount of information active for a brief period, enough to use it in the moment—like holding a phone number just long enough to dial it or keeping a few steps in mind while solving a problem. It’s limited in capacity (you might think of a handful of items) and relies on rehearsal to maintain the information long enough to act on it. This is different from long-term memory, which stores information for much longer periods, and isn’t about keeping things active for immediate tasks. In many views, the active processing and manipulation of that temporary information is called working memory, which sits inside this short-term store and is what you use when planning or computing. The other options don’t fit: object permanence is about understanding that objects exist even when not seen, and fine motor skills involve physical movement, not memory storage.