short-term memory

noun

1. information retained in the brain and retrievable from it over a brief span of time (contrasted with long-term memory).

noun

1. psychol that section of the memory storage system of limited capacity (approximately seven items) that is capable of storing material for a brief period of timeCompare long-term memory

n.

1. The phase of the memory process in which stimuli that have been recognized and registered are stored briefly.

Retention of information that undergoes little processing or interpretation and can be recalled for only a few seconds. Short-term memory can retain about seven items.