Cindy is watching her little sister as she skips rope. As long as the rope is turning, all Cindy can see is a blur of colour. She can make out only the shape of the skipping rope when her sister stops skipping. Which of the following accounts for the "blurred" image that Cindy sees while the rope is moving?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The blurred image that Cindy sees while the rope is moving is due to the function of sensory memory. Sensory memory holds information from our senses for a very brief period of time (a few seconds). In the case of Cindy, the sensory memory of her eyes holds the image of the moving rope for only a fraction of a second, not long enough for her brain to process a clear image of the skipping rope.

Cindy Is Watching Her Little Sister as She Skips Rope