Sensory memory holds sensory information for very brief periods of time, usually 1 second or less. The processing of memories and other information begins in this type of memory.

If a person pays attention to sensory input, then the information may move into short-term and then long-term memory.

briefly acknowledging something in a person’s field of vision

Sensory memory helps a person piece together a sense of the world based on recent sights, sounds, and other sensory experiences.

When a specific sensory experience becomes relevant, such as the smell of something in the kitchen, it may move to other types of memory.

Otherwise, sensory memories are very short-term, and a person quickly forgets them.

For example, a person will not recall all the specific sounds they heard in the last 30 seconds, 30 minutes, or 30 days unless there is some reason to remember them.

Short-term memory allows a person to recall a limited string of information for a short period.

These memories disappear quickly, after about 30 secondsTrusted Source.

Short-term memory is not just memory that does not last long. Instead, it is a type of short-lived storage that can only hold a few pieces of information.

remembering a phone number while getting a pen to jot it down

Working memory is similar to short-term memory. However, unlike the latter, working memory is where a person manipulates information.

This helps them remember details of their current task. Some behaviorsTrusted Source that use working memory include:

solving a complex math problem where a person must remember several numbers

baking something, which requires a person to recall the ingredients they already added

participating in a debate, during which a person must remember the main arguments and the evidence each side uses

While researchers typically separate working and short-term memory into two different categories, research often findsTrusted Source a significant overlap between the two.