Quick Snapshots: Sensory Memory

Imagine your brain has a waiting room. Before any information can go into your long-term memory, it has to stop here first. This place is called Sensory Memory. It is the very first stage of memory. It takes in everything around you through your five senses: sight, sound, smell, touch, and taste. However, it only holds onto this information for a tiny amount of time—usually less than $1$ second! It's like a disappearing ink that fades almost as soon as it is written.

Your brain handles different senses in different ways. When you see something, your brain creates an Iconic Memory. This is like a mental photograph that lasts for about $\frac{1}{4}$ to $\frac{1}{2}$ of a second. When you hear something, your brain creates an Echoic Memory. This is like a 'mental echo' that lasts a bit longer, about $3$ to $4$ seconds. This extra time for sound helps you understand the beginning of a sentence even when the speaker is at the end of it!

Your brain is hit with thousands of pieces of information every second. You see the color of the floor, hear a bird outside, and feel your socks on your feet. Why don't we remember all of it? Because your brain uses a filter. Only the things you pay attention to move from sensory memory into your 'Working Memory.' If you don't focus on it, the 'snapshot' is deleted forever to make room for new ones. Attention is the key that unlocks the door to the rest of your brain!