Final answer:
Very little of what enters the sensory register moves into the memory system; only information assessed as valuable is transferred to short-term memory. Sensory memory briefly stores sensory inputs, but selective attention determines which data is processed further. Sensory signals usually go to the thalamus, except for the olfactory system, before being routed to the specific cortical areas.
Step-by-step explanation:
Very little of what goes into the sensory register passes further into the memory system, but the information deemed valuable is transferred into short-term memory (STM). Sensory memory serves as a brief repository for sensory impressions, such as sights, sounds, and tastes, usually lasting just a couple of seconds. Most sensory information is perceived as unnecessary and quickly discarded. However, when we consider something important, it moves into our short-term memory, where it holds about seven bits of information for a short period before it is either forgotten or transferred to long-term storage.
For example, you might not remember what your professor wore last class because that information was not encoded into your memory system. However, if the professor had worn something extraordinary, that sensory input could be considered significant enough to be processed and stored in the short-term memory. The process of moving from sensory input to short-term memory involves selective attention, where only certain aspects of the sensory experience are focused on and further processed.
Additionally, while most sensory signals are directed to the thalamus and then to the specific cortical areas for processing, the olfactory system is a notable exception, bypassing the thalamus and directly entering the brain's olfactory regions. This pathway emphasizes the specialized nature of sensory processing in relation to memory formation.