features of memory stores

Question 1

what are the 6 AO1 points you must know for features of memory?

Answer 1

-Encoding (Coding)
-Capacity
-Duration
-Sensory Register
-Short-Term Memory (STM)
-Long-Term Memory (LTM)

Question 2

What is meant by encoding in memory?

Answer 2

Encoding refers to how information is processed into memory.

Sensory register: by sense (e.g., visual, auditory)

STM: mainly acoustic

LTM: mainly semantic

Question 3

What is capacity in memory?

Answer 3

Capacity is the amount of info each store can hold.

Sensory register: very large

STM: 7±2 items (Miller, 1956)

LTM: potentially unlimited

Question 4

What is duration in memory?

Answer 4

Duration is how long information lasts.

Sensory register: ~0.5 seconds

STM: 18–30 seconds (Peterson & Peterson)

LTM: up to a lifetime (Bahrick et al.)

Question 5

What is the role of the sensory register?

Answer 5

It’s the first store in the MSM. It takes in raw sensory input and holds it briefly. If attention is paid, it moves to STM.

Question 6

What is the role of short-term memory (STM)?

Answer 6

STM holds a limited amount of information for short periods. Info can be lost unless rehearsed.

Question 7

What is the role of long-term memory (LTM)?

Answer 7

LTM stores information permanently. With rehearsal, info from STM is transferred here and can be retrieved later.