Sensory Memory

Oxford Psychology for QLD Units 3&4 Chapter 7.2

What is sensory memory?

The short-term retention of sensory information.

What are the two types of sensory memory?

Iconic memory and echoic memory.

What is iconic memory?

Visual memory.

What is echoic memory?

Auditory memory.

How long are iconic memories retained for?

0.3 seconds.

How long are echoic memories retained for?

3-4 seconds.

What is the function of iconic memory?

To allow us to retain visual information briefly for processing.

Why is iconic memory’s duration so short?

To allow us to swiftly look around and process things without delay.

Why is sensory memory short-term?

To prevent our brains from being overwhelmed by information.

What may be the evolutionary reason behind iconic memory’s short duration?

To enable fast visual reflexes for survival. Lingering on the same visual memory from ages ago would impact our ability to function efficiently.

What is the reasoning behind echoic memory’s longer duration?

Communication requires us to listen and process auditory information over a longer period than that required to process visual information. Speech is often performed over a longer period of time and requires us to retain more information to understand context and meaning.