Kurt_Cobain_X
Kurt_Cobain_X Jan 1, 2026 • 7 views

Real-Life Examples of Short-Term Memory at Work

Hey everyone! 👋 Ever wonder how short-term memory works in everyday life? 🤔 It's more than just remembering a phone number for a few seconds! Let's explore some real-life examples and test your knowledge with a quick quiz!
💭 Psychology

1 Answers

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claire.russo Dec 31, 2025

📚 Quick Study Guide

  • 🧠 Short-term memory (STM) temporarily holds information.
  • ⏱️ STM duration is about 20-30 seconds without rehearsal.
  • 🔢 STM capacity is limited; often cited as '7 ± 2' items (Miller's Law).
  • 🗣️ Information can be maintained in STM through rehearsal (repeating it).
  • 🚧 Interference can easily disrupt STM.
  • 🔗 STM is crucial for tasks like following instructions and mental calculations.
  • 🧩 Working memory is a broader concept, incorporating manipulation of information held in STM.

Practice Quiz

  1. Which of the following is the BEST example of short-term memory in action?
    1. Remembering your childhood birthday party.
    2. Recalling the rules of a game you learned years ago.
    3. Remembering a phone number long enough to dial it.
    4. Knowing the capital of France.
  2. While cooking, you quickly glance at a recipe to remember the next ingredient. This utilizes which type of memory?
    1. Long-term memory.
    2. Sensory memory.
    3. Procedural memory.
    4. Short-term memory.
  3. You are introduced to someone at a party. What's the approximate duration you'll likely hold their name in short-term memory without actively trying to remember it?
    1. A few minutes.
    2. 20-30 seconds.
    3. Several hours.
    4. Indefinitely.
  4. Trying to mentally multiply 7 x 8 involves which type of memory?
    1. Episodic memory.
    2. Semantic memory.
    3. Short-term memory.
    4. Flashbulb memory.
  5. A waiter remembers a customer's order without writing it down. This relies heavily on:
    1. Implicit memory.
    2. Long-term memory consolidation.
    3. Short-term memory.
    4. Procedural memory.
  6. Why is it harder to remember a list of similar-sounding words compared to a list of distinct words in short-term memory?
    1. Distinct words are inherently more interesting.
    2. Similar-sounding words cause interference in short-term memory.
    3. The brain prefers visual information.
    4. Longer words are always harder to remember.
  7. Which of the following strategies is MOST effective for moving information from short-term memory to long-term memory?
    1. Ignoring distractions.
    2. Rehearsal and elaboration.
    3. Focusing intently.
    4. Avoiding sleep.
Click to see Answers
  1. C
  2. D
  3. B
  4. C
  5. C
  6. B
  7. B

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