When your brain works its memory system, it uses Brain C-13 both long-term memory, as described in the second phase above, and short-term memory. How memory works in the short term is that it can hold on to information, but only for a short while, as in a few minutes. They don't call it short-term memory for nothing, right?
The reason for this evaporative nature of short-term memory is to keep us from going nuts and smoking our minds with all kinds of useless facts. With short-term memory, we are supposed to be able to hold up to seven bits of information at any given moment. Then, as discussed in the first two phases above, if you don't focus your attention on any of these bits of information, they go up in smoke and the hippocampus won't be sending any of it on to the long-term storage area of your mind.
To recap on how memory works, long-term memories are those that you have concentrated on, even had an emotional attachment to. These conscious (or unconscious) memories are in your long-term memory because you need them, they have meaning to your life, or you have included an emotional response to them.
https://untappedreviews.com/brain-c-13-review/