Answer: The memory system is made up of three interwoven parts: sensory memory, working memory, and long-term memory. Each of these parts is essential to the whole process of encoding, storing, and retrieving information. They are connected as follows:
- Sensory Memory: The first step of memory processing, sensory memory is where incoming sensory information from the environment is temporarily stored. Iconic memory (visual sensory memory) and echoic memory (auditory sensory memory) are the two categories. We may observe and pay attention to sensory stimuli before further processing because sensory memory serves as a temporary buffer. Although sensory memory has a great storage capacity, it normally only lasts a fraction of a second to a few seconds.
- Working Memory: Also known as short-term memory, working memory is in charge of manipulating and temporarily storing data needed for ongoing cognitive processes. Processing and modifying information from both sensory memory and long-term memory are actively involved. Compared to long-term memory, working memory is constrained in terms of capacity and longevity. It enables us to temporarily keep and use a little quantity of information, such as a phone number or a set of instructions.
- Long-Term Memory: Long-term memory is the part of the brain that stores and recalls information over a long period of time. It can possibly hold a lifetime's worth of data and has almost infinite storage capacity. Through repeated exposure and practice, information from working memory and sensory memory is consolidated in long-term memory. It contains procedural (implicit) memory, which includes abilities, routines, and conditioned reactions, as well as declarative (explicit) memory, which includes facts and experiences.
The relationship between these memory elements can be viewed as an information flow. Incoming sensory stimuli are temporarily stored in sensory memory, which transfers pertinent information to working memory for active processing. In turn, working memory manipulates and analyzes this data for quick access during cognitive tasks. Information that is retrieved frequently or thought important is consolidated and stored in long-term memory for eventual retrieval through rehearsal and encoding processes.
While sensory memory, working memory, and long-term memory are separate components, it's vital to remember that they all function in concert to make it easier to encode, store, and retrieve information across the entire memory system.