The concept of sensory memory

Traditionally, memory researchers have distinguished between two types of transient memories: sensory memories and short term memories.

Sensory memories are faithful, veridical records of initiating stimuli. It is a memory system for storing sensory information for a very short period of time, ranging from a fraction of a second to as long as three or four seconds.

Visual, auditory, and other memory stimuli constantly strike human sensory receptors, forming impressions body briefly hold in sensory memory in a kind of temporary storing device called a sensory register.

The sensory impression then disappears and is replaced by the next one.

Sensory memory keeps the person from being overwhelmed by too many incoming stimuli because any sensory information of not attend to will vanish in seconds. Most stimuli that register sensory memory are lost before they reach short – or long term memory.
The concept of sensory memory