Which term describes initial exposure to stimuli enabling memory at sensory level?

• A. Short-term memory
• B. Long-term memory
• C. Working memory
• D. Sensory memory

Answer: (D)

Sensory memory is the brief, initial register for incoming sensory information. When a stimulus hits, its sensory trace is held just long enough to be noticed and possibly moved into further processing. This trace is extremely short—visual information can persist about a quarter of a second (iconic memory), while auditory information lasts a few seconds (echoic memory). Since the question describes exposure at the sensory level, the term that fits best is sensory memory—the stage that captures raw sensory input before attention and higher processing occur. Short-term or working memory involve actively holding and manipulating information for immediate use, and long-term memory stores information for much longer periods.