Final answer:
Short-Term Memory (STM) only lasts for about 15-30 seconds and serves as a temporary holding stage for information before it is saved into long-term memory or discarded.
Step-by-step explanation:
The component of memory that only lasts for about 15-30 seconds is Short-Term Memory (STM). This is a stage of memory where the brain temporarily holds a limited amount of information before it is either transferred to long-term memory or forgotten. To illustrate, STM can be likened to the information currently displayed on a computer screen, which can be saved for later use (moved to long-term memory) or closed and lost if deemed unimportant.