Lightning flash or sparkler trails are examples of iconic memory. The term ‘iconic’ is derived from the word ‘icon’, and refers to a fleeting mental image that is formed after receiving the sensory input from the eyes. Iconic memory is the sensory memory for vision, whereas echoic memory is the memory for audition (hearing). The terms ‘iconic memory’ and ‘echoic memory’ were coined by Ulric Neisser in 1967. Since the mental images are constantly being replaced with the new sensory inputs in the sensory registers, continuity is maintained in the way we perceive our surroundings. Moreover, just within the brief duration for which it lasts, one can decide the parts of sensory information that should be retained and transferred to short-term memory. The sensory information that is received vanishes in a few seconds, which in turn prevents us from getting overwhelmed by multiple sensory stimuli. The rest of the information is discarded or forgotten. Out of all the sensory inputs, only the information that we pay attention to gets transferred to the short-term memory. The element of attention is extremely important in case of sensory memory. The information can be stored in long-term memory indefinitely.Īn important function of sensory memory is to briefly store sensory impressions or the exact copies of the sensory inputs (visual, auditory, gustatory, olfactory, and haptic), as a buffer memory till it is transferred into the short-term memory. While the duration of sensory memory ranges up to 4 seconds, the duration of the short-term memory is about 20-30 seconds. The short-term memory and long-term memory have limited and unlimited capacity respectively. Sensory memory has a large capacity for information, but it has a brief duration. Sensory memory, short-term memory, and long-term memory differ from each other, when it comes to the duration, capacity, and function.
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