The part of memory with limited capacity which can only hold information for a short period of time is known as what?

• A. Short-Term Memory
• B. Long-Term Memory
• C. Schematic Knowledge
• D. Strategic Competence

Answer: (A)

Short-Term Memory is the part of memory that temporarily holds information you’re actively using. It has a limited capacity—about seven items, give or take a couple—and it only keeps information for a short time unless you rehearse it. If you repeat the information, you can keep it longer and move it into long-term memory, which is much larger and lasts much longer. This distinction helps explain everyday tasks like dialing a just-remembered phone number: you can hold it in mind briefly, but it fades quickly if you don’t rehearse. The other terms aren’t used to describe this temporary, limited-use store. Long-Term Memory is a vast, durable repository, while schematic knowledge and strategic competence refer to types of knowledge or skills rather than a temporary holding place.