What is the short-term memory storage capacity for new cognitive information before it is lost due to inattention?

The short-term memory storage capacity for new cognitive information is often characterized by a very brief duration, typically around one minute before information can be lost due to inattention. Short-term memory, also known as working memory, acts as a temporary holding area for information that you are actively processing. Within this limited time, if the information is not actively rehearsed or transferred to long-term memory, it can easily be forgotten.

In practical terms, this means that without focused attention or rehearsal, the brain is unable to maintain information for longer than this short interval. This characteristic of short-term memory highlights the importance of attention and encoding processes in forming lasting memories. As such, new cognitive information must be actively attended to and manipulated within this time frame to ensure it is retained.

The other timeframes provided do not align with established understanding of cognitive processing. A duration of one hour, one second, or one day would either exceed the typical span of short-term memory or represent an immediate, fleeting form of attention not retained effectively in memory.