L4 - Evaluation Of MMM Flashcards
1
Q
Neurobiological Evidence
A
- 1) Scoville (1957) treated HMs epilepsy by removing his hippocampus
- He could not code new LTM memories but his STM was unaffected
- This proves that memory is separate and distinct
- 2) Shallice+Warrington (1970) saw KF who had a motorbike accident and a poor STM (2 digits)
- His LTM was unaffected, proving there are distinct areas for memory
- His STM was affected with verbal tasks but not visual tasks, suggesting there are separate STMs which contradicts the MMM
- According to MMM, Memories have to go to STM before recalled but as KF’s STM was damaged and he could still recall memories it disproves the MMM.
2
Q
Laboratory Experiments
A
- Murdock (1962) introduced the free recall experiment (words recalled in any order)
- words at the beginning and end were recalled better than those in the middle: called the serial position effect
- words at the start have been rehearsed and are in LTM (primacy effect)
- words at the end are still in the STM (recency effect)
Supports idea of distinct and separate memory
3
Q
General Evaluation
A
- MMM is oversimplified, saying there is only one type of STM and LTM.
- Baddeley and Hitch (1974) claimed the MMM could g explain why we could multitask. One type of STM means multitasking is not possible
