Iconic Memory:

Involves the brief retention of visual stimuli, allowing individuals to perceive the world as a continuous visual experience.

Echoic Memory:

Refers to the fleeting retention of auditory stimuli, enabling individuals to perceive and interpret sounds.

Haptic Memory:

Relates to the temporary retention of touch sensations, providing individuals with a sense of tactile perception.

Gustatory Memory:

Denotes the transitory storage of taste sensations, allowing individuals to remember and discriminate between different flavors.

Olfactory Memory:

Includes the brief retention of smell sensations, aiding individuals in recognizing and recalling various scents.

Other Sensory Modalities:

In addition to the above, there are other sensory modalities that contribute to sensory memory, such as vestibular memory (related to balance and bodily orientation), proprioceptive memory (associated with body position and movement), and so on.

Duration:

Sensory memory has an exceptionally short duration, typically ranging from a fraction of a second to a few seconds.

Capacity:

Sensory memory has a vast storage capacity, allowing it to hold a large amount of sensory information simultaneously.

Encoding:

The information stored in sensory memory is typically encoded in a raw and unprocessed form, representing a faithful snapshot of the sensory input.

Forgetting:

Sensory memory quickly fades away if the information is not attended to or transferred to other memory systems.

The primary function of sensory memory is to provide a buffer or buffer-like mechanism that briefly holds sensory information while the brain decides whether it needs further processing and storage.