Lesson 4 - Evaluation of the Multi-Store Model of Memory

Question 1

Neurobiological Evidence MSM

Scoville (1957)

Answer 1

Treated patient HM’s epilepsy by removing several brains areas including hippocampus
Resulted in being unable to code new LTM although STM was unaffected
Supports idea of separate STM and LTM

Question 2

Neurobiological Evidence MSM

Shallice and Warrington (1970)

Answer 2

KF motorbike accident reduce STM capacity of 1-2 digits but LTM unaffected
Supports idea of separate STM and LTM
KF had poor STM for verbal tasks but not visual suggesting more than one type of STM contradicting MSM
MSM also states if STM is damaged then it is difficult to retrieve LTM but it was possible without difficulty

Question 3

Laboratory Experiments MSM

Murdock (1962)

Answer 3

Free call experiment - presented participants with long list of words to be recalled in any order
Words at beginning and end were recalled best due to serial position effect
Beginning - maintenance rehearsal through repetition and transferred to LTM (primary effect)
End - still in STM (recency effect)
Supports idea of separate STM and LTM

Question 4

General Evaluation MSM

Baddeley and Hitch (1974)

Answer 4

MSM cannot explain ability to multi-task

If there’s only 1 type of STM them multitasking is not possible but many people can multitask

Question 5

General Evaluation MSM

Simplistic

Answer 5

MSM is over simplistic assuming there is only one type of STM and LTM
Research indicates several STMs (phonological loop and visuo-spatio sketchpad)
Also indicates several types of LTM (episodic, semantic and procedural)