Memory - multi-store model of memory (MSM)

Question 1

What is a model?

Answer 1

Visual representation of how something works and allows predictions to be made about human behaviour - cognitive psychologists rely on them

Question 2

Who proposed the model?

Answer 2

Atkinson and Shiffrin (1968)

Question 3

What is the model order?

Answer 3

• Stimulus (from environment)
  ———>
• Sensory Register
• Attention —>
• STM Store
  a) output (down) |
  b) transfer (right) —>
  c) retrieval (left) <—
  d) maintenance rehearsal (left from LTM) <—
• LTM Store

Question 4

What is significant about the model?

Answer 4

It’s the first model of memory and is very influential - inspiring much research

Question 5

How many memory stores does it suggest individuals each have? How do they differ?

Answer 5

3 separate and distinct stores which differ in coding, capacity and duration

Question 6

How does the information pass through each store?

Answer 6

Linear, sequential model means information passes through the stores in order, from store to store if certain conditions are met but information can be lost in each store

Question 7

What is the coding, capacity and duration of the sensory register?

Answer 7

CO = modality specific (info is encoded in the form by which it entered)
CA = very large
D = less than 1 second

Question 8

How does info transfer to the STM store?

Answer 8

From the sensory register, if attention is focused on the info it will be transferred to the STM

Question 9

What stores are within the sensory register?

Answer 9

Iconic = where visual images are kept for a short period (visual encoding)
Echoic = where auditory senses are kept for a short period (acoustic encoding)
Haptic = retains physical senses of touch and internal muscle tensions (touch encoding)

Question 10

What is the coding, capacity and duration of the STM store?

Answer 10

CO = acoustically
CA = 7 +/- 2 items
D = 18-30 seconds (unless rehearsed)

Question 11

How can info get lost in STM store?

Answer 11

It will decay if it’s not rehearsed
New info can push out old info due to STM’s limited capacity (displacement)

Question 12

How does info get from STM to LTM?

Answer 12

Info is moved via rehearsal / consolidation

Question 13

What is the coding, capacity and duration of the LTM store?

Answer 13

CO = semantically
CA = potentially infinite
D = potentially unlimited

Question 14

How does info enter the LTM?

Answer 14

If info is rehearsed for a longer period of time, it will transfer from STM to LTM

Question 15

How does info get recalled from the LTM store?

Answer 15

It’s retrieved from LTM back to STM ready for output

Question 16

What are the key points about the HM study?

Answer 16

• HM had his hippocampus surgically removed to treat epilepsy which resulted in serious anterograde amnesia
• He couldn’t form new memories, revealing critical role of hippocampus in memory consolidation
• HM experienced severe damage to his LTM, couldn’t remember his meals earlier that day and repeatedly read a magazine without remembering
• Despite LTM damage, STM remained intact as he performed well in immediate digit span tasks which assess capacity of STM

Question 17

How does HM study support MSM?

Answer 17

Provides evidence for its central feature: existence of separate and distinct memory stores. Increases validity of the model

Question 18

Why is it important to note that HM is a single individual case study?

Answer 18

Results might not be generalisable
E.g, his epilepsy medication may have affected his brain in ways that differ from others

Question 19

What is a strength of the MSM? - Supportive evidence from brain scans

Answer 19

===> Beardsley (1997) discovered prefrontal cortex exhibits activity during STM tasks (decision making) not LTM though. Squire (1992) found active hippocampus in LTM processes. Scientific and objective evidence that different parts of the brain are active during different types of memory usage, supporting multiple memory stores. Increases validity of theory

Question 20

What is a limitation of the MSM? - Argument from other researches: excessive emphasis on role of maintenance rehearsal

Answer 20

===> Craik and Lockhart (1972) study where ppts. asked questions about a list of words involving shallow (determining if word printed in capitals) or deep processing (if words fit in a sentence). Ppts. remembered more words when engaged in deeper processing. Alternative explanation developed in levels of processing theory - challenging core concept of maintenance rehearsal in MSM

Question 21

What is a limitation of the MSM? - Overly simplistic through case studies like HM

Answer 21

===> MSM asserts that LTM is single, unified store. HM findings contradict as he couldn’t form semantic or episodic long-term memories but could form procedural ones. Indicate LTM is composed of multiple stores, doesn’t provide a comprehensive explanation for intricacies of memory

Question 22

What is a strength of the MSM? - Supportive HM evidence

Answer 22

===> HM suffered severe LTM damage but performed well in a STM digit span task, showing the separate and distinct stores characterised by the model. HM is a case study of a singular person so results might not be generalisable