One of the sensory memory registers. The auditory sensory memory for sounds just perceived.

• A. Iconic memories
• B. Echoic memory
• C. Haptic memory
• D. Stereotype threat

Answer: (B)

Auditory sensory memory is the brief holding tank for sounds just perceived. This is echoic memory, which keeps auditory information for a short window—typically a few seconds—so you can process what you’ve just heard even after the sound stops. That’s why you can often still “hear” the tail end of a sentence or a sound you just heard for a moment longer as you shift your attention.

By contrast, iconic memory is the visual counterpart, storing images for a fraction of a second. Haptic memory relates to touch sensations. Stereotype threat is not a memory system at all but a social psychology phenomenon describing how concerns about stereotypes can affect performance.