US High School Psychology Practice Exam 2025 - Free Practice Questions and Study Guide

Question: 1 / 400

How long does information typically last in sensory memory?

Several minutes

A few seconds to several seconds

A fraction of a second to several seconds

The duration of sensory memory is characterized by its brief and fleeting nature. Sensory memory acts as a buffer for sensory information received from the environment, registering it for a very short time. The typical retention span ranges from a fraction of a second to several seconds, depending on the type of sensory input—for example, iconic memory (visual) lasts about 0.5 seconds, while echoic memory (auditory) can extend slightly longer, around 3 to 4 seconds.

This brief window allows sensory information to be processed before it is either discarded or encoded into short-term memory. The other choices suggest longer durations for memory retention, which do not accurately reflect the nature of sensory memory; hence, this range is crucial for understanding how we experience and interact with the world around us.

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