The two primary tasks of short-term memory are to ________.
A) store information permanently and to process how meaningful that information is
B) store information permanently and to work on that (and other) information
C) store information briefly and to work on that (and other) information
D) hold on to information just long enough to begin initial processing by the nervous system and to selectively filter out irrelevant information

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Short-term memory is also known as working memory, and its two primary tasks are to temporarily store information and to actively work on that information (such as rehearsing it or manipulating it mentally). It is not responsible for permanently storing information, as that is the job of long-term memory. It also does not filter out irrelevant information, as that is a function of attention. Therefore, the best answer is C, which accurately describes the two primary tasks of short-term memory.

The Two Primary Tasks of Short-Term Memory Are to ________