Sensory Memory

What Is Sensory Memory?

• Shortest-term element of memory.
• Ability to retain impressions of sensory info after the origional stimuli have ended.
• Acts as buffer for stimuli recieved through the 5 senses.

HOW DOES IT WORK

• If you are reading fast, your brain registers the information.
• While new information is being registered, it is immediately replaced.
• This is called Iconic Memory and lasts one second.

STUDIES OF SENSORY MEMORY

• George Sperling in early 1960s
• Involved flashing grid of letters for 50 milliseconds.
• Suggested the limit of upper limit of sensory.

Fun Facts

• Short-term memory has a small storage capacity.
• Duration of this memory is about 15-20 sec.
• Long-term Memories last varying periods, up to a lifetime.