CED Cognition Practice Exam 2025 – Comprehensive Test Preparation

Iconic memory is a specific type of sensory memory that pertains to the fleeting retention of visual information. It briefly holds onto visual stimuli for a very short duration, typically around 1/20th of a second to a few seconds. This allows the brain to process and interpret visual data before it either fades away or gets transferred to short-term memory for further processing.

The concept of iconic memory underscores how our sensory systems initially capture a wealth of visual information from our environment, even if only for an instant. It plays a crucial role in our ability to perceive motion and dynamic visuals, as it provides a buffer that allows the brain to compile and make sense of the visual input received.

In contrast, long-term memory refers to the storage of information over extended periods, which is fundamentally different from the ultra-short duration of iconic memory. Maintenance rehearsal is a technique for maintaining information in short-term memory but does not apply to sensory memory processes. Implicit memory involves the unconscious retention of learned skills and conditioned responses, which also has no direct correlation with the immediate, transient nature of iconic memory.