Final answer:
The sensory register can hold information for a very brief period of up to a couple of seconds before it is either discarded or moves into short-term memory, which lasts about 15 to 30 seconds.
Step-by-step explanation:
The sensory register is capable of holding information for a very brief period, typically up to a couple of seconds. This is because it is involved in the storage of brief sensory events, which include sights, sounds, and tastes. When sensory input is deemed valuable, it can move into short-term memory (STM), which has a longer duration. The STM can hold information for about 15 to 30 seconds before it is either transferred to long-term memory or discarded. Sensory information encoding involves several attributes: the type of stimulus, the location of the stimulus, the duration of the stimulus, and the stimulus intensity.
Through visual encoding, for example, we input images into our memory system. The effectiveness of this information encoding process can be influenced by a variety of factors, including the suggestibility of the individual - the effects of misinformation from external sources that can lead to false memories - and transience, the tendency for memories to fade over time if they are not used.