Short-term memory

Imagine your brain has a tiny notepad. When someone tells you a phone number, you write it down super fast on this notepad. That's like your short-term memory! It holds onto a few pieces of information, like a phone number or a friend's name, for a short time so you can use them right away. It’s like a temporary sticky note for your thoughts!

This notepad doesn't hold things for very long. If you don't keep thinking about the phone number, it might disappear in just a few seconds! It’s like trying to remember a dream after you wake up – it fades away quickly. So, you have to use the information fast before it's gone from your brain's notepad.

Short-term memory is like a helpful friend who remembers what you just said. It helps you follow instructions, like when a teacher tells you to 'turn to page 10 and read the first paragraph.' You need to remember all those steps! It also helps you have conversations, remembering what someone just said so you can answer them.

Scientists think your brain's notepad can only hold about 4 or 5 things at once. It’s like trying to carry too many toys at once – some might drop! So, if you need to remember a lot of things, your brain might need to write them down on a real piece of paper or use a special trick to keep them safe.