STM capacity

Short-term memory (STM) capacity refers to the amount of information we can hold and work with briefly, typically around 7 items plus or minus 2, according to research. This means most people can remember about 5 to 9 pieces of information, such as digits or words, for a short period without actively rehearsing it. STM acts as a mental workspace, helping us process and organize information quickly before it is either forgotten or moved into long-term memory. Its limited capacity underscores the importance of strategies like chunking to improve memory retention.