Iconic memory

The Iconic memory ( Iconic sensory memory ) is a conceptual model of the psychology of memory. It refers to the part of sensory memory (also sensory register or ultra short-term memory ), which is responsible for visual information.

The iconic memory stores all incoming visual information between and makes them available for further processing. This process is präattentiv, which means it runs unconsciously.

As early study, an experiment by Johann Andreas Segner of (1740 ) is often quoted: one mounted on a wheel of burning coal is rotated faster and faster in a dark room until the observer a continuous track without gap, ie a steady picture looks. The estimated Persistenzdauer was approximately 100 ms ( duration of one revolution to the visual appeal to " refresh ").

The iconic memory has a much larger capacity than the short-term memory, consistent with the partial report method by George Sperling (1960 ) showed. The visual sensory memory decays very quickly, however. So the first memory traces have disintegrated after less than 200-400 ms.