During which memory stage is the memory most similar to the actual physical stimulus it represents? a. Long-term b. Motor c. Short-term d. Sensory

The answer is **d. Sensory**.Here's why:Sensory memory is the very first stage of memory. It holds information in its raw, unprocessed form, a direct representation of the sensory input. This means the memory trace is as close as possible to the actual physical stimulus (light, sound, touch, etc.). It's extremely brief, lasting only milliseconds to a few seconds, before either fading away or being passed on to short-term memory. Think of it as a fleeting afterimage or echo.The other options are not as close to the original stimulus:* **Short-term memory:** Information in short-term memory has already undergone some processing and encoding, often translating it into a more manageable form (like words or concepts).* **Long-term memory:** Information in long-term memory is even further removed from the original stimulus, having been consolidated and potentially reconstructed over time.* **Motor memory (or procedural memory):** This type of memory focuses on learned skills and actions, not the direct representation of sensory input.