Questions: Which of the following are characteristics of sensory storage? Sensory information is available as a brief memory trace. Each sense makes use of sensory storage. It is available for up to 20 seconds. There are five different sensory stores. It causes us to experience the motion of objects in discrete, separate steps.

The correct answers are:

1. Sensory information is available as a brief memory trace.
2. Each sense makes use of sensory storage.
3. There are five different sensory stores.

Explanation for each option:

1. Sensory information is available as a brief memory trace.

   • This is correct. Sensory storage holds information for a very short period, typically less than a second, allowing us to perceive a continuous experience from discrete sensory inputs.

2. Each sense makes use of sensory storage.

   • This is correct. Sensory storage exists for each of the senses (e.g., iconic memory for vision, echoic memory for hearing), allowing us to process and integrate sensory information from different modalities.

3. It is available for up to 20 seconds.

   • This is incorrect. Sensory storage typically lasts for a very brief period, usually less than a second. The 20-second duration is more characteristic of short-term memory, not sensory storage.

4. There are five different sensory stores.

   • This is correct. There are generally considered to be five sensory stores corresponding to the five senses: sight, hearing, taste, touch, and smell.

5. It causes us to experience the motion of objects in discrete, separate steps.

   • This is incorrect. Sensory storage helps us perceive motion as continuous rather than in discrete steps. The brief retention of sensory information allows for the smooth perception of motion.

Summary: The characteristics of sensory storage include the brief availability of sensory information as a memory trace, the use of sensory storage by each sense, and the existence of five different sensory stores. Sensory storage does not last up to 20 seconds and does not cause us to experience motion in discrete steps.