1.1 The MSM Flashcards
Duration
Length of time
Capacity
How much it can hold
Encoding
The way information is changed to store it
Linear
Info flows along a line if paid attention to
Passive
Stores don’t work together to process info
Unitary
Stores are single and deal with all info the same
Sensory memory coding
Iconic storage (visual info)
Echoic storage (auditory)
Capacity of sensory memory
Iconic = large
Echoic = small
Sensory memory duration
0.25-4 seconds
Sperling (1960)
Aim: demonstrating capacity of sensory memory
Method: ppts shown a visual array of 12 letters displayed for 50 milliseconds -> ppts asked to recall letter straight after
Results: average recall was 4/12 letters due to info fading rapidly
STM coding
Acoustic
STM capacity
7 +/- 2 items
STM duration
18 seconds -> up to 30 seconds with maintenance rehearsal
Peterson and Peterson (1959)
Brown-Peterson technique
- ppts were given 3 random letters and 3 digits (THX512) that they were going to recall at either 3,6,9,12,15 or 18 seconds
- in between learning and recall has to count backwards from their 3 digits (stopped rehearsal)
- Results: 90% correct after 3 seconds, 2% correct after 18 seconds
LTM coding
Mainly semantic but also visual and acoustic
LTM capacity
Unlimited
LTM duration
Indefinite
Baddeley (1966)
- ppts were given two lists to learn
- 1st list, words were semantically similar (neat, tidy)
- 2nd list, words were acoustically similar (neat, sweet)
- had to recall immediately and 20 mins later
- results: immediate confusion/errors in list 2 so STM codes acoustically, after 20 mins confusion/errors in list 1 so LTM codes semantically
Strength: primacy and recency effect
- A list of 20 words read out
- Ppts then recall
- Primacy is words first heard and they go into your LTM (repetition)
- Recency is words heard last - these sit in STM for recall
Strength: HM
- HM had severe epilepsy, neuron surgeons removed hippocampus
- Upon waking, his IQ and personality were intact but he couldn’t make new LTMs
- Suggests memory is linear and STM and LTM are separate
Weakness: K.F.
- K.F. had a motorbike accident
- Upon waking his STM was very damaged, he struggled verbally, not visually and could make new LTMs
Weakness: flashbulb memories
- Strong vivid memories that go from SM to LTM
- Goes against linear model
