Lesson 3 - Multi-Store Model of Memory

Question 1

The Multi-Store Model of Memory

Answer 1

Developed by Atkinson and Shiffrin (1968)
Explains how information flows from one memory store to another
Three permanent structures: Sensory Register, STM, LTM
All differ in capacity, duration and coding

Question 2

Sensory Register

Answer 2

Environmental stimuli received through senses enters SR - short duration store for unprocessed information
Separate store for each sensory input (iconic and echoic)
Capacity is unlimited but duration is 250 milliseconds
Information attended to is processed in STM, other information decays

Question 3

Short Term Memory

Answer 3

Information from SR is acoustically coded into STM making similar sounds confusing
Temporary store from SR before transfer to LTM
Limited capacity of 7(+/-)2 before displacement
Duration of 18-30 seconds before decay without rehearsal
Maintenance rehearsal keeps information in STM
Elaborating rehearsal or repeated MR leads to transfer in LTM

Question 4

Long Term Memory

Answer 4

Semantically coded information store from sufficiently rehearsed information from STM
Potentially infinite capacity
Potentially lifetime duration
Information is retrieved by STM and recalled
Information is not always accessible due to retrieval failure thus maybe needing retrieval cues