Memory- MSM AO1 Flashcards
What is cognitive psychology?
Looking at the processing of information in the human mind –> taking a theoretic, abstract approach by creating models of thought
What does it mean to say a model is theoretical?
It is a representation of the steps involved in internal mental processes but we would not expect to physically see them in the brain
Why do cognitive psychologists make theoretical models?
Give research a focus and direction
Allow us to predict future mental processes
Help us understand what people with problems may be missing or struggling with
Who created the Multi-Store Model of memory (MSM)?
Atkinson and Shiffrin in 1968
What does the MSM say about memory?
Information flows from one storage system to another
Linear
3 permanent and separate structures
What are the 3 structures of memory in the MSM model?
Sensory memory
Short term memory (STM)
Long term memory (LTM)
What is coding?
Converting information from environment into a form that can be stored in memory
What is capacity?
Amount of information that can be stored in each area of memory
What is duration?
Length of time that information can be stored before it is lost or replaced
What is attention?
Focussing on environmental stimuli to start storing it in STM
What is maintenance rehearsal?
Repeating the information in auditory form over and over in order to hold it in our memory
What is the sensory register?
(MSM)
Equivalent to any one of the senses
How is sensory register encoded?
(MSM)
In original form
How does capacity of sensory register work?
(MSM)
Picks up stimuli from environment
Very large capacity
What is duration of sensory register?
(MSM)
Around 0.5 secs due to trace decay –> info first arrives at senses but doesn’t stay long
What happens if attention is focussed on information in sensory register?
(MSM)
It is transferred to STM
What happens to information that is not focused on?
(MSM)
It is ignored and lost to save space and prepare for more new information
What is STM?
(MSM)
Temporary store for incoming information which we have paid attention to
How is STM encoded?
(MSM)
Acoustically (by sound)
How is information maintained in STM?
(MSM)
Through maintenance rehearsal which takes form of acoustic repetition
What is duration of STM?
(MSM)
Around 18 secs
What is capacity of STM?
(MSM)
Limited to only 5-9 items (7 +/- 2 items )
How is information transferred from STM to LTM?
Elaborative rehearsal (adding meaning) –> idea that the more something is rehearsed the better it will be remembered
What is LTM?
(MSM)
Hold lasting memories that have been created by rehearsal
How is LTM encoded?
(MSM)
Mainly semantically (by meaning) but can be visual and auditory
What is capacity of LTM?
(MSM)
Unlimited
What is duration of LTM?
(MSM)
Lifetime
How is information recalled in LTM?
(MSM)
Retrieval (when information is located for use)
What counts as LTM?
Storage of information longer than 30 secs
How does information flow in MSM?
In a linear way –> had to go through stores in order and cannot skip over any)
What is rehearsal?
Process by which short term memories are transferred into long term memories
What is serial position effect?
Memory affected by position of the word
More likely to recall words from start and end of list
More likely to forget words in the middle of the list
What is primary and recency effect?
Words early in the list put into LTM (primary effect) as participant has more time to rehearse
Words from end of list put into STM (recency effect)
Words in middle of list been there too long to be held in STM but not long enough to be in LTM
What are strengths of lab experiments?
Standardised procedures allows replication
Results more likely to be accurate
Controlled environment
Why do lab experiments not fully support the multistore model?
Many of studies use artificial and unmeaningful tasks which are not ways in which we use memory in everyday lives
What is research evidence which contradicts the claim that LTM is a single unitary store?
Case study of Clive Wearing
How do the findings from Wearing’s case support MSM?
STM is separate to LTM –> can damage one and other can remain intact
STM has very short duration
How does Wearings’ case criticise MSM?
Not true that there is only one kind of LTM –> not one unitary store like it claims as Wearing lost declarative memory but his non-declarative memory was still intact
