Working memory

Working memory is your brain's mental scratch pad that temporarily holds and manipulates information while you're actively using it, like when you're doing mental math or following instructions. It's the cognitive system that keeps relevant information front and center in your mind for just long enough to complete an immediate task, though it can only juggle a handful of items at once before things start getting dropped. Think of it as different from long-term memory because working memory is about actively thinking with information right now, rather than storing it away for later retrieval.