4.1.2 Multi-store Model Of Memory And Types Of Long Term Memory Flashcards
Define memory
Memory is our ability to take in information, store it, and recall it at a later time.
Who created the multi-store model of memory?
Atkinson and Shiffren
What is the multi-store model of memory?
A representation of how information flows through the memory system, made up of three stores that are linked by processing.
Which approach does the MSM link to?
It is an application of the cognitive approach.
Define coding?
The different information types or formats used to store memory
Define capacity
How many items of information can be stored in a memory store.
Define duration
The length of time that information can remain in a memory store.
Why is the MSM linear?
The MSM is linear as it only goes in one direction, and goes through the stores one at a time. The stores are passive when processing information.
What is the input to the MSM?
Sensory information- stimulus from the environment
Describe the sensory register
Capacity= unlimited
Duration= 250 milliseconds
Coding= sense/modality specific
It has different sensory stores for each sense
Capacity is unlimited as you can take in information from all senses at the same time
Difficult to study as we are not aware of all info in there unless it its important
What is attention?
When we focus on a pice of information in the sensory register so it is able to move to the short term memory.
Describe the short-term memory
Capacity= 5-9 items
Duration= 18-30 seconds
Coding= acoustic (in the form of sound or spoken word)
It is the limited capacity memory store
Information not stored is lost due to displacement or decay
What is rehearsal?
The process by which information is moved from the short-term memory and retained in the long-term memory
What is retrieval?
The process by which necessary information is moved from the long-term memory to the short-term memory when it is required.
Describe the long-term memory
Capacity= unlimited
Duration= unlimited
Coding= semantic (in the form of meaning)
Explain why the STM is better at reciting words that mean the same or have meaning than the LTM
This is because the LTM encodes all information as meaning, so focuses on what the words mean rather than what the words actually were.
Therefore it is difficult to recall words that have similar meaning from the LTM, as it struggles to distinguish between them.
Explain why the LTM is better at reciting words that sound the same than the STM
This is because the STM encodes all information as sound, so focuses on the way in which the words sound rather than what the words actually were.
Therefore, it is difficult to recall similar sounding words from the STM as it struggles to distinguish between them.
What did Tulving propose?
He realised that the multi-store model’s view of LTM was too simplistic and inflexible, so he proposed three LTM stores.
He also said that LTM is not anatomically and cognitively unified, meaning it is located in multiple brain areas/regions, and there is not only one type of LTM.
What are the three LTM stores?
Episodic
Semantic
Procedural
Describe the episodic LTM store?
A LTM store of our personal events, including time stamped memories that we have personally experienced.
They have to be consciously recalled, so you are aware that you are searching for your memory.
It is associated with the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex.
Describe the semantic LTM store
A long-term memory store for our knowledge of the world, including facts and figures about how the world works.
It is not time stamped, and is less vulnerable to distortion and forgetting.
It is associated with the temporal lobe and prefrontal cortex.
Describe the procedural LTM store?
A long-term memory store for our skills and knowledge of motor skills, including how to do something/ a skill you can apply.
We form and recall them unconsciously, making it difficult to verbally describe them.
They are resistant to distortion and forgetting and are not timestamped.
They are associated with he cerebellum and motor cortex.
Define implicit/non-declarative
Unavailable for conscious inspection and difficult to explain verbally eg. Procedural
Define explicit/declarative
Available for conscious inspection and can be expressed verbally eg. Semantic and episodic
