Final answer:
The correct answer is option a, indicating that information is stored in sensory memory for a very short time before it is either discarded or transferred to short-term memory through attention and rehearsal.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer is option a. Information is stored in sensory memory for a very short time. In the Atkinson-Shiffrin model of memory, sensory memory is the initial, temporary stage that captures incoming information and holds it for a brief period, generally for less than a few seconds. This form of memory allows us to process and retain the vast amounts of sensory information we receive from the environment, such as sights, sounds, and tastes. However, because our cognitive system cannot handle all this data, most of it gets discarded unless it is deemed valuable and therefore transferred to short-term memory. If the information is actively rehearsed, then it might move into long-term memory; otherwise, it is not retained. Thus, sensory memory acts as a buffer for stimuli received through the five senses, which are processed at an incredibly fast rate but not stored for an extended period unless further attention is given to them.
Sensory memory is the first stage of memory processing according to the Atkinson-Shiffrin model. It involves the storage of brief sensory events, such as sights, sounds, and tastes. However, sensory memory only lasts for a very short time, typically up to a couple of seconds. While sensory information is constantly bombarding our senses, most of it is discarded and does not move into our short-term or long-term memory systems.