Final answer:
The iconic sensory memory lasts a fraction of a second, and echoic sensory memory lasts a few seconds. Transience refers to the inability to remember previously stored information, often due to memory decay or interference. Short-term memory holds information temporarily, whereas long-term memory stores information indefinitely.
Step-by-step explanation:
The iconic sensory memory lasts a fraction of a second, and the echoic sensory memory lasts a few seconds. Transience is the inability to remember information that was previously stored in our memory but becomes inaccessible over time, which is often due to the normal process of memory decay or from interference.
Sensory Memory
Sensory memory is responsible for the storage of brief sensory events, like sights, sounds, and tastes. When we perceive something as valuable, the information moves into our short-term memory (STM), where it is temporarily held and can be processed further.
Short-Term Memory
Short-term memory storage typically lasts 15 to 30 seconds. STM can hold about seven bits of information before being forgotten or stored in long-term memory. This stage may use processes such as rehearsal and visual encoding to maintain and manage the information.
Long-Term Memory
Long-term memory (LTM) is the continuous storage of information and is believed to have an unlimited capacity. It includes explicit and implicit memories and is organized in a complex way, with memories becoming a permanent record within this system.