Lesson 2 - Models of Memory

Question 1

Who developed the Multi-Store Model?

Answer 1

Atkinson and Shiffrin (1968)

Question 2

What is the multi-store model?

Answer 2

It states that there is a flow of information through several processes:

• Environmental Input
• The sensory register
• STM (by paying attention to information in the SR)
• LTM (via rehearsal)

Question 3

Coding of the sensory register

Answer 3

Modality specific

• Hearing (echoic)
• Visual (iconic)
• Physical touch (haptic)
• Taste (gustatory)
• Olfactory (smell)

Question 4

Duration of the sensory register

Answer 4

250 milliseconds

Question 5

Capacity of the sensory register

Answer 5

Unlimited

Question 6

Research support for the sensory register

Answer 6

Sperling (1960)

Question 7

Sperling (1960)

Answer 7

• Supports the sensory register
• Participants were shown a grid of 3x4 grid of letters for 50 milliseconds.
• They had to immediately recall either the entire grid, or one of the three rows indicated by high, medium or low tone that was played.
• Participants could recall an average of 3/4 letters regardless of which row was selected.
• This shows that the capacity of the sensory register is very large but with a short duration.

Question 8

Strengths of Sperling (1960)

Answer 8

Repeatable, highly controlled variables.

Question 9

Weaknesses of Sperling (1960)

Answer 9

Lacks ecological validity, as recalling letters as a response to a tone is not an everyday activity, so cannot reflect real life.

Question 10

Strengths of the Multi Store Model

Answer 10

• It explains primacy and recency. A study by Murdoch found that participants who were given a list of 10-40 words mostly remembered words from either end of the list, but not the middle. This is because the words at the start are in the LTM, and the words at the end are in the STM. The middle of the list is known as the asymptote.
• Case studies support idea that the STM and LTM are separate stores. H.M, a patient studies by Scoville and Milner (1957) had brain damage due to surgery. His personality remained intact and he could recall a list of 6 numbers in order. He could not form new long term memories. So his STM was intact but the LTM had been damaged.
• Brain scanning supports that the STM and LTM are separate. Beardsley (1977) used brain scanning and found that the prefrontal cortex was active during STM but not LTM tasks.

Question 11

Weaknesses of the Multi Store Model

Answer 11

• Does not take into account elaborative rehearsal and ‘flashbulb memories’. Information that we deeply understand or that is highly emotional is easily stored in the LTM, as shown by Kulik and Brown. The MSM is simplified.
• The STM and LTM may be separate, but are not singular stores. The STM may be split into a visual and auditory stores. Patient K.F sustained brain damage which impaired his verbal STM but not his visual STM. The MSM argues that it is a singular store when this may be incorrect.
• Most studies around the MSM lack ecological validity, therefore supporting evidence for the model may not reflect how memory works in real life.