Final answer:
Researchers have characterized the active information processing that occurs in short-term memory as B) working memory, which is part of the memory system that includes both explicit and implicit memories.
Step-by-step explanation:
To recognize the active information processing that occurs in short-term memory, researchers have characterized it as working memory. Short-term memory (STM) is a component of working memory and differs from long-term memory which includes both explicit memory and implicit memory. Working memory is like the desktop on a computer, active and accessible, handling the information we are currently thinking about or processing. Explicit memory, on the other hand, relates to the information saved on the hard drive, which we consciously try to remember and recall. It includes both episodic and semantic memories. Implicit memory, akin to programs running in the background, affects our behavior without entering our conscious awareness and can include procedural memory and conditioning.