Definition
Short-term memory (STM) is the stage of memory that holds a small amount of information in conscious awareness for a brief period — typically around 30 seconds — so it can be used immediately or processed further. It has limited capacity (commonly described as around seven items) and information held in STM is lost unless it is rehearsed, acted on, or moved into long-term memory.
Plain English
It's the mental scratch pad you use to hold a few pieces of information just long enough to use them — like a frequency you've just been given before you dial it in. If you don't repeat it or use it quickly, it slips away.
Context Anchor
Seen in aviation training discussions about how students learn, follow instructions, manage workload, and avoid forgetting important information during a flight lesson.
Derivation
From 'short-term' (a brief duration) and 'memory' (the mind's ability to retain information). The phrase highlights that this kind of memory is by nature temporary — it is built to hold information briefly, not to store it.
Why Pilots Care
Pilots rely on short-term memory to hold critical details such as headings, altitudes, and clearances during busy phases of flight; exceeding its limits leads to forgotten instructions or errors.
Analogy
Short-term memory is like a small notepad in your mind. It is useful for quick items, but it fills up fast and can be erased easily if something else demands attention.
Intuition Check
Do not assume short-term memory means something is learned. It may be available for a few moments, but it can fade quickly unless the pilot uses it, repeats it, writes it down, or connects it to something already understood.
Example Sentence 1
The pilot held the new altimeter setting in short-term memory just long enough to set it in the Kollsman window.
Example Sentence 2
During the emergency, the instructor reminded the student not to overload short-term memory by trying to remember too many checklist items at once.