What is the typical duration of short-term memory?

Short-term memory typically lasts for 15 to 30 seconds, making this choice the most accurate. During this time, information is held temporarily for immediate use or processing. The concept of a limited duration for short-term memory is well-established in cognitive psychology, often illustrated by classic studies conducted by researchers like George Miller and Alan Baddeley.

This timeframe allows individuals to retain and manipulate information needed for tasks such as mental arithmetic or following directions. After this duration, if the information is not encoded into long-term memory or refreshed through rehearsal, it is likely to be lost.

The other options suggest durations that are either too short or unnecessarily lengthy for what is conventionally considered short-term memory. For example, durations shorter than 15 seconds do not adequately capture how long the memory can typically be maintained when actively engaged. Likewise, suggesting durations longer than 30 seconds extends into realms more characteristic of working memory rather than short-term memory, where information processing becomes more complex.