When scientists talk about working memory they mean a kind of memory that works to keep things in our minds for only a very short time, like a few seconds; you only need to hold that information until you deal with the situation or problem, then you can forget it. Unless we do something to keep the information in mind, such as saying it out-loud over-and-over again, it will quickly be forgotten. A reason information in working memory is lost so quickly, is that working memory can only hold a small amount of information, about seven items at a time. Information cannot stay in working memory forever. Things either need to be forgotten or moved out of working memory to more permanent memory, so that there is space for the new information that comes along.
Now imagine that you have been given a gift card to your favorite store and you want to use it on-line to buy something you really want.

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