memory - multi-store model Flashcards
who proposed the multi-store model?
Atkinson and Shiffrin (1968, 1971)
what is the multi-store model?
it describes how information flows through the memory system
what is the sensory register?
all stimuli from the environment pass into the sensory register
comprises different sensory stores, one for each sense
what is the coding of the sensory register?
modality-specific - each store depends on the sense
iconic memory codes visual information
echoic memory codes acoustically
duration of sensory register
less than half a second
capacity of sensory register
very high capacity
how does information pass from the sensory register further into the system?
if you pay attention to it
what is the STM?
a temporary store of information in the memory system
limited capacity - only contains a certain amounting until forgetting occurs
coding of STM
mainly acoustically
duration of STM
about 18 seconds
capacity of STM
Miller - 7, plus or minus 2
Cowan - 4, plus or minus 1
what is maintenance rehearsal?
repeating the material to ourselves
keeps information in STM
how does information move from STM to LTM?
prolonged rehearsal - if we rehearse the information enough it moves to LTM
what is LTM?
permanent memory store
duration of LTM
can last up to a lifetime - Bahrick et al (1975)
coding of LTM
mainly semantically
capacity of LTM
thought to be unlimited
how does information move from LTM to STM?
if we want to recall information, it has to be transferred back to STM through retrieval
strength of MSM - research support
Baddeley (1966) found STM and LTM code differently
studies on duration found differences between STM and LTM
counterpoint - use of artificial stimuli, so MSM may not be a valid model of memory in everyday life
limitation of STM - KF
KF case study (1970), he had amnesia
- poor STM for digits read to him
- better recall when read the digits himself
suggests MSM is wrong in claiming there’s just one STM store
limitation - elaborative rehearsal
Craig and Watkins (1973) found the type of rehearsal is more important than the amount
elaborative rehearsal can transfer information from STM to LTM - linking to existing knowledge or thinking about what it means
