What is the function of sensory memory?

The function of sensory memory is to process sensory information fleetingly, allowing individuals to briefly hold and perceive incoming stimuli from their environment. Sensory memory acts as an initial stage in the information processing system, capturing impressions from our senses—such as sights, sounds, and smells—almost instantaneously for a very short duration, typically less than a second. This allows the brain to filter important stimuli and decide which information is worth further processing and encoding into short-term memory.

In contrast, the other choices discuss functions that relate to different types of memory. Storing information for long durations pertains to long-term memory, which consolidates and retains information for extended periods. Encoding information for long-term memory is also a function associated with short-term memory as it transitions encoded details for permanent storage. Lastly, retrieving information from long-term memory refers specifically to the processes involved in accessing data that is already stored, which is outside the scope of sensory memory’s immediate processing function.