Memory - Multistore Memory Model

Question 1

Explain an overview of the Multistore Memory Model

Answer 1

• Proposed by Atkinson and Shiffrin in 1968
• Model was the first step in the scientific testing of memory
• It’s based on STM, LTM and the sensory register
• It describes how information is transferred from one memory store to another, how it’s remembered and forgotten and is a representation of how memory works

Question 2

Explain the Multistore Memory Model

Answer 2

1. Information enters sensory register via environmental stimuli
2. What’s important from the information will be paid attention to which is the first step in remembering
3. Once attention has been payed, the information goes into the STM and is kept in there via maintanence rehersal
4. Elaborate rehersal then sends information into the LTM
5. When recalling LTM, STM must retrive information

Question 3

What cognitive processes does the model use to explain how information is transferred from one store to another?

Answer 3

• Attention: When we focus on stimuli and is used to pass information on from the sensory store
• Maintenance rehersal: Process of repeating over and over in order to remember a peice of information, it’s used to pass information from STM to LTM
• Recoding: Needed when information goes from one store to the next
• Retrieval: Used when accessing and recovering stored information
• Forgetting: This involves the inability to recall or recognise something previously learnt

Question 4

What are the different types of forgetting?

Answer 4

• Decay: happens in sensory register and STM
• Displacement: happens in STM
• Retrieval failure/ Interference: happens in LTM

Question 5

Explain what the Sensory Register is

Answer 5

• It is the information at the senses
• Information arrives here through our eyes, ears, nose, fingers and tongue: many different stores for each 5 senses
• Iconic memory: Visual information coded visually in less than half a second
• Echoic memory: Sound or auditory information coded acoustically
• Sensory store constantly recieves information but most of it gets no attention and the incoming information remains in sensory store for less than half a second
• Large capacity
• If attention is paid to sensory store then the information is transferred to STM

Question 6

Explain the Short Term Memory

Answer 6

• For events in the present or immediate past e.g. trying to remember a list of food to order in a fast food restaurant
• Limited capacity store - about 7 items
• Information coded acoustically and lasts 30 seconds unless it’s rehearsed - maintanence reherseal occurs
• Once rehearsed enough, information is passed to LTM

Question 7

Explain the Long Term Memory

Answer 7

• For events that have happened in the distant past e.g. what you did last Tuesday
• Potentially permanent memory store for rehearsed information
• Unlimited capacity
• Coded semantically
• Despite information being stored in LTM, it has to be transferred back to the STM for recall through retrieval