Multiple Choice
Sensory memory permits us to keep information in an active state briefly so that we can do something with the information.
Sensory memory is the memory store in which information first has meaning.
Sensory memory can store an almost exact replica of each stimulus to which it is exposed.
The precision of sensory memory is low due to its brief duration.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Correct Answer: Sensory memory can store an almost exact replica of each stimulus to which it is exposed.
Explanation (300+ words):
Sensory memory is the initial stage of memory that captures raw sensory information from the environment through our five senses—sight, hearing, taste, touch, and smell. It acts as a brief storage system that holds a nearly perfect representation of the sensory stimulus, albeit for a very short duration, typically just a fraction of a second to a few seconds depending on the sensory modality.
The key characteristic that makes the correct answer true is the accuracy and fidelity with which sensory memory stores information. For example, iconic memory (a type of sensory memory associated with vision) can hold an almost exact image of a visual stimulus for about 0.5 seconds, while echoic memory (related to auditory stimuli) can retain sound information for 3 to 4 seconds. These forms of memory preserve the details of the stimulus almost perfectly but decay very quickly unless transferred to short-term memory through attention.
Sensory memory is not where information “has meaning”, which is a misunderstanding—assigning meaning occurs in short-term and long-term memory systems, not in sensory memory. Additionally, although its duration is brief, sensory memory is actually very precise in the short window it is active. The statement that “the precision of sensory memory is low due to its brief duration” is incorrect, because duration and precision are not inversely related in this context; sensory memory is precise but short-lived.
Lastly, the option stating sensory memory keeps information in an active state so we can “do something” with it better describes working memory or short-term memory, where conscious processing and manipulation of information occur.
In conclusion, the true statement is that sensory memory stores an almost exact replica of each stimulus, but only for a fleeting moment, giving the brain a chance to decide what to attend to and potentially transfer to short-term memory.