memory - the multi store memory model Flashcards
what is the msm (multi store memory model)?
it can be described as the representation of how memory works, using 3 memory stores, and also describes how info is transferred from one to the other.
what 3 stores are used in the msm?
short term memory, long term memory, the sensory register
what is the sensory register?
it is the memory store for our 5 senses
what would the iconic store be used for ( in the sensory register)?
this stores visual information.
what would the echoic store be used for ( in the sensory register)?
this is used for acoustic information, sounds.
describe the model of the msm ( how it looks/works)
stimulus from the environment enters the sensory register, this is stores as one of the 5 senses, if you pay attention to these stimuli it will go into the STM. if you rehearse this info( repeat it to yourself) it passes to the LTM. from your LTM you are able to retrieve things from the STM.
what is the capacity and duration for the sensory register?
capacity - very high millions of receptors
duration - very short time, about half a second
according to the msm, what has to happen when you want to recall info from LTM?
the information has to be transferred back into STM by a process called retrieval.
what part of the brain is shown to have a major role in memory?
the hippocampus, it is on both sides of the brain.
what is the case study of HM?
he was a patient that had brain surgery to relieve epilepsy, the procedure was never fully understood so the hippocampus was removed from his brain. he could no longer form LT memories or could not recall what he had eaten earlier that day. however his STm was not effected, he performed well on immediate memory span tests.
How can the case study of HM support the MSM?
supports the idea that there are 2 independent memory stores, STM and LTM. it shows that you can damage one of these but the other can still be fine.
what is one strength of the msm involving research support?
there are many studies that have been done that show STM and LTM are different. Baddeley found that we tend to mix up words that sound similar when using STM but mix up more words that have similar meanings when we use LTM. shows that they are independent things.
what is one limitation to the MSM?
there is evidence of more than one STM store. using the studies of KF who had amnesia .further studies of him showed that there could be another short term store for non verbal sounds. Shows that the MSM is wrong in claiming that there is just one STM store.
what is another limitation of the MSM?
prolonged rehearsal is not needed for transfer to LTM, Craik and Watkins found that the type of rehearsal is more important than the amount of times it is rehearsed. elaborative rehearsal is needed for long term storage. this is a limitation as it suggests that msm does not fully explain how long term storage is achieved.
what is elaborative rehearsal?
it is when you link the information to your existing knowledge, or thinking about what it means.
