What mechanism describes the temporary storage of experienced stimuli immediately after presentation?

Sensory memory is the mechanism that captures and holds incoming sensory information for a brief period immediately after it is presented. This type of memory functions as an initial stage of memory processing, allowing individuals to perceive and begin to process sensory stimuli from the environment without conscious effort. Sensory memory retains this information for only a fraction of a second, which is sufficient for the initial recognition and processing of stimuli.

For example, when you see a flash of light or hear a sound, sensory memory allows that visual or auditory information to be stored momentarily, giving you just enough time to decide if you want to pay further attention to that stimulus and move it into more enduring forms of memory, such as short-term or working memory. This characteristic of sensory memory makes it distinct from short-term and working memory, which involve more complex processing and longer durations for information retention.