Lesson 4: Evaluation of the Multi-store Model of memory

Question 1

State one positive evaluation of Neurobiological evidence supporting the MSM
(Hint: Hm’s epilespy)

Answer 1

In 1957 Scoville attempted to treat a patient he referred to as HM’s epilepsy by removing several areas of his brain including the HIPPOCAMPUS.

-This resulted in the patient being UNABLE to code new LONG TERM MEMORIES, although his STM was unaffected.

-This supports the idea of separate and distinct STM and LTM

Question 2

State one POSITIVE evaluation of Neurobiological evidence supporting the MSM
(Hint: KF motorbike accident-> STM capacity)

Answer 2

Shallice and Warrington (1970) reported the case study of KF who as a result of a motorbike accident had reduced STM CAPACITY of only one or two digits, yet his LTM was normal.

-This supports the idea of a separate STM and LTM
stores.

Question 3

State one positive Laboratory evaluation of the MSM
(Hint: Free recall experiment)

Answer 3

Murdock presented participants with a long list of words to be recalled in any order, this was referred to as the FREE RECALL EXPERIMENT.

Words at the BEGINNING and the END were recalled better than those in the middle.

-This is called the SERIAL POSITION EFFECT.

-Words at the beginning of the list are recalled because they have constantly been rehearsed and have now transferred into the LTM -> PRIMACY EFFECT.

-Words at the end of the list are recalled because they are still in the STM->RECENCY EFFECT

This supports the idea of separate and distinct STM and LTM.

Question 4

State one negative evaluation of the Multi-store model of memory
(Hint: simple)

Answer 4

The MSM is over simplified in assuming that there is only one type of STM + one type of LTM.

• Research studies indicate that there are several types of STM stores, such as one for VERBAL information and for NON-VERBAL information.

-Research also suggests that there are several types of LTM stores

• We have EPISODIC memory for life events,

-SEMANTIC memory for knowledge and facts

• PROCEDURAL memory for motor skills

Question 5

State another negative evaluation of the multi-store model of memory
(Hint: multi task)

Answer 5

• Baddeley and Hitch (1974) claimed that the MSM could not explain the ability to multi-task; if there is only one type of STM then multi-tasking would not be
  possible.

-However, people multi-task all the time, for example listening to the
radio while driving.