Final answer:
Short-term memory (STM) is the correct term for a memory storage system that retains memory impressions for around 15-20 seconds before the information is either stored long-term, forgotten, or used. STM is a component of the working memory that processes sensory input and has a duration of 15 to 30 seconds.
Step-by-step explanation:
A memory storage system that contains memory of impressions for around 15-20 seconds is referred to as short-term memory (STM). This type of memory serves as a temporary storage system that processes incoming sensory memory, which includes brief sensory events like sights, sounds, and tastes. It's important to distinguish that short-term memory is a component of working memory, where it holds information before it is either forgotten, stored, or actively used.
According to the Atkinson-Shiffrin model, information first enters our sensory memory for a very brief period. If information is deemed valuable, it moves into short-term memory. STM has a duration of 15 to 30 seconds, analogous to viewing data on a computer screen before deciding whether to save it to the hard drive (long-term memory) or discard it.
Factors like memory trace decay and proactive interference can affect how information is retained in STM before it either fades away or is consolidated into long-term memory. However, unlike short-term memory, long-term memory (LTM) has a practically unlimited capacity for storage and encompasses all the information that you can recall that happened more than a few minutes ago.