Which type of memory is responsible for holding onto information for a very short period?

The type of memory responsible for holding onto information for a very short period is sensory memory. Sensory memory serves as the initial stage of memory processing, capturing brief impressions of sensory information—such as sights, sounds, or smells—immediately after they are perceived. This type of memory has a very brief duration, typically lasting only a fraction of a second up to a few seconds, allowing individuals to experience the environment in real-time before the information is either forgotten or further processed into short-term memory.

Understanding this concept is crucial because sensory memory acts as a filter, capturing vast amounts of sensory data and determining which pieces of information are worthy of attention and thus get transferred into subsequent memory stages. In contrast, short-term memory typically holds information for longer periods than sensory memory but still only ranges from about 15 to 30 seconds. Working memory, while involved in actively processing information for immediate tasks, also differs in its functions and capacity compared to sensory memory. Long-term memory is responsible for the storage of information over extended periods, making it distinct from the very brief, initial storage function of sensory memory.