1.1 The MSM

Question 1

Duration

Answer 1

Length of time

Question 2

Capacity

Answer 2

How much it can hold

Question 3

Encoding

Answer 3

The way information is changed to store it

Question 4

Linear

Answer 4

Info flows along a line if paid attention to

Question 5

Passive

Answer 5

Stores don’t work together to process info

Question 6

Unitary

Answer 6

Stores are single and deal with all info the same

Question 7

Sensory memory coding

Answer 7

Iconic storage (visual info)
Echoic storage (auditory)

Question 8

Capacity of sensory memory

Answer 8

Iconic = large
Echoic = small

Question 9

Sensory memory duration

Answer 9

0.25-4 seconds

Question 10

Sperling (1960)

Answer 10

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

Question 11

STM coding

Answer 11

Acoustic

Question 12

STM capacity

Answer 12

7 +/- 2 items

Question 13

STM duration

Answer 13

18 seconds -> up to 30 seconds with maintenance rehearsal

Question 14

Peterson and Peterson (1959)

Answer 14

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

Question 15

LTM coding

Answer 15

Mainly semantic but also visual and acoustic

Question 16

LTM capacity

Answer 16

Unlimited

Question 17

LTM duration

Answer 17

Indefinite

Question 18

Baddeley (1966)

Answer 18

• 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

Question 19

Strength: primacy and recency effect

Answer 19

• 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

Question 20

Strength: HM

Answer 20

• 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

Question 21

Weakness: K.F.

Answer 21

• K.F. had a motorbike accident
• Upon waking his STM was very damaged, he struggled verbally, not visually and could make new LTMs

Question 22

Weakness: flashbulb memories

Answer 22

• Strong vivid memories that go from SM to LTM
• Goes against linear model