US High School Psychology Practice Exam

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Prepare for the US High School Psychology Test. Use flashcards and multiple choice questions, with detailed hints and explanations for each query. Ensure success on your exam!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

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How long does information typically last in sensory memory?

Several minutes
A few seconds to several seconds
A fraction of a second to several seconds
Up to one minute

The correct answer is: A fraction of a second to several seconds

The duration of sensory memory is characterized by its brief and fleeting nature. Sensory memory acts as a buffer for sensory information received from the environment, registering it for a very short time. The typical retention span ranges from a fraction of a second to several seconds, depending on the type of sensory input—for example, iconic memory (visual) lasts about 0.5 seconds, while echoic memory (auditory) can extend slightly longer, around 3 to 4 seconds. This brief window allows sensory information to be processed before it is either discarded or encoded into short-term memory. The other choices suggest longer durations for memory retention, which do not accurately reflect the nature of sensory memory; hence, this range is crucial for understanding how we experience and interact with the world around us.