The type of memory that holds information received from the sensory register for up to about 30 seconds, is called?

Appeared in: DSSSB - 29 August 2019 (Shift-2)

Explanation

Short-term memory (STM) is the system that holds information received from the sensory register for a brief duration, typically cited as being up to 30 seconds.
This memory store has a limited capacity, famously described as holding about 7 plus or minus 2 items of information.
Information in STM is either forgotten quickly or transferred to long-term memory through processes like rehearsal.
It is also referred to as working memory when the information is being actively manipulated for tasks like problem-solving.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

Option A: Semantic memory is a category of long-term memory that stores general knowledge and facts, not a temporary holding area for sensory information.
Option B: Long-term memory stores information for extended periods, from minutes to a lifetime, which is much longer than the 30-second duration mentioned in the question.
Option C: Episodic memory is a type of long-term memory that stores personal experiences and specific events, not a short-duration buffer.

Related Visual

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Types of Memory (Atkinson-Shiffrin Model) as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Assessing a patient's memory is a key component of the Mental Status Examination (MSE). Nurses test immediate recall (part of STM) by asking patients to repeat a series of numbers or words.
Deficits in short-term memory can be an early sign of cognitive impairment, such as in dementia or after a head injury, and require careful monitoring and patient safety interventions.
What if? If a patient consistently fails to recall three words after 30 seconds, it indicates a significant impairment in short-term memory. The nurse should document this finding, ensure safety measures are in place (e.g., written instructions, frequent reorientation), and report it to the healthcare team for further evaluation.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key phrase in the question stem: 'holds information... for up to about 30 seconds'.
Next, recall the basic model of memory, which includes sensory, short-term, and long-term stores.
Evaluate each option based on its known duration.
Semantic and Episodic memory are types of long-term memory, so they can be eliminated.
Long-term memory itself has a much longer duration than 30 seconds, so it is also incorrect.
This leaves Short-term memory, which perfectly matches the 30-second timeframe described.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Types of Memory (Atkinson-Shiffrin Model)
Stem keywords: memory, sensory register, 30 seconds
Lead-in keywords: type of memory

Question ID

Qylx04OXnGRGLe43oBP2zd

Reference Book

E6 Psychology Morgan King 9e Part 1 p. 206-208

E6 Robert Boland, Marcia L. Verduin - Kaplan and Sadock's Comprehensive Text of Psychiatry-Wolters Kluwer Health (2024) (pp 1-16525 of 16525) p. 2623-2625

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