Cognitive Approach: Multi-store Memory Model Flashcards
What is the multi-store memory model?
- STM serves as a gateway by which information can gain access to LTM
- various memory stores are seen as components that operate in conjunction with the permanent memory store (LTM) through attention, coding, and rehearsal
- rehearsal is vital to keeping material active in STM by repeating it until it can be stored in LTM
consists of:
- sensory memory
- short term memory
- long term memory
What does the multi-store memory theory assume?
- memory consists of a number of separate locations in which memory is stored
- memory processes are sequential
- each memory store operates in a single, uniform way
- modality specific - ie. sensory information enters sensory memory
Define sensory memory
- a very short-term memory store for information being processed by the sense organs
- duration is typically less than a second
Define short-term memory
- the capacity to keep a small amount of information in mind in an active, readily available state for a short period of time
Define long-term memory
- the phase or type of memory responsible for the storage of information for an extended period of time
Define memory
- the concept of memory refers to the process by which information is encoded, stored, and retrieved
Define memory models
- a model of memory is a hypothesized representation of memory
- it’s like an outline of the different stores and processes indicating how memory might work according to available evidence
What are the different types of memory?
1) Declarative memory (“knowing what”) is the memory of facts and events and refers to those memories that can be consciously recalled. There are two subsets of declarative memory:
1a) Episodic memory: memory of specific events that have occurred at a given time and in a given place
1b) Semantic memory: general knowledge of facts and people
2. Procedural memory (“knowing how”) is the unconscious memory of skills and how to do things
HM (Milner) can be used for…
multi-store memory model and research methods
HM (Milner) - background
- HM sustained a serious head injury at age 7, epileptic attacks began at age 10, and at age 27 he was unable to lead a normal life and medication didn’t help
HM (Milner) - aim
- to better understand the effects that the surgery had had on patient HM
HM (Milner) - procedure
- method triangulation
- performed experimental surgery - removed tissue from the medial temporal lobe (including hippocampus)
- psychometric testing: IQ test results were above average
- direct observation of behavior
- interviews with HM and family members
- cognitive testing - memory recall tests
- an MRI was conducted to determine the extent of damage - the hippocampus had the most damage
HM (Milner) - findings
- HM couldn’t acquire new episodic knowledge (memory for events) or new semantic knowledge (general world knowledge)
- procedural memories (motor skills) were maintained and showed improvements in new skill performance
- HM had a capacity for working memory since he was able to carry on a normal conversation - requires a minimal level of retention
- HM was able to form a cognitive map of the spatial layout of his house - this type of memory is not encoded in the same way as semantic or episodic memories
HM (Milner) - conclusion
- hippocampus plays a critical role in converting memories from STM to LTM
- STM is not stored in the hippocampus as HM was able to retain information when rehearsed
- as HM retained some memories from long before the incident, it indicates that the medial temporal region is not the site for permanent storage but plays a role in organization and storage elsewhere in the brain
- implicit memory contains several stores - procedural memory, emotions, memory, skills, habits
- suggests that the removed brain structures are important for LTM
