Memory - The multi-store model (MSM)

Question 1

Who devised the multi-store model, the first cognitive explanation of memory?

Answer 1

Atkinson & Shiffrin (1968)

Question 2

What does the MSM explain?

Answer 2

The model explains how information flows through a series of storage systems

Question 3

What are the three permanent stores in memory?

Answer 3

Sensory Register (SR), Short term memory (STM), Long term memory (LTM)

Question 4

What enters the Sensory Register?

Answer 4

Information gathered by the sense organs

Question 5

How does information pass from the STM to LTM?

Answer 5

Through rehearsal and when it is thought about enough

Question 6

How is information stored in the Sensory Register ?

Answer 6

Separate sensory stores for different sensory inputs e.g the echoic store for auditory information, the iconic store for visual information

Question 7

What is the capacity of every sensory memory?

Answer 7

Very large, with information contained being in an unprocessed, highly detailed and ever-changing format

Question 8

What is the duration of the SR?

Answer 8

Limited duration - max of 0.5 secs, different types of information within each store decaying at different rates

Question 9

What are the strengths of the MSM?

Answer 9

• The model is supported by amnesia cases. Patients either lose their LTM or their STM abilities, but not both, supporting the idea that STM and LTM are separate memory stores
• The MSM was the first cognitive explanation of memory and was thus influential, formed the basis for the working memory model leading to a greater understanding of how memory works

Question 10

What are the weaknesses of MSM?

Answer 10

• The main criticism of the MSM is that it is over-simplified, as it assumes there are single STM and LTM stores. KF patient who had amnesia= STM for digits was poor when read aloud to him but was better when read to himself. Indicating that there are several types of STM, like one for sounds and one for images. (Shallice & Warrington) As well as different types of LTM, like procedural, semantic and episodic. (Tulving)
• MSM describes memory in terms of structure, namely the three memory stores and the processes of attention and verbal rehearsal, However MSM focuses too much on structure and not enough on the processes.