MF- Multi-Store Memory

Question 1

Who developed the multi-store model of memory?

Answer 1

Atkinson and Shiffren

Question 2

What are the three memory stores in the model?

Answer 2

sensory register—>short term memory—>long term memory

Question 3

Describe the sensory register store of the multi store model of memory.

Answer 3

It takes information in from the environment via the 5 senses.

Question 4

How is information encoded in the sensory register store?

Answer 4

Encoding is modality specific- it stores the information in the store that it enters in.

Question 5

What is the duration of the information stored in the sensory register store?

Answer 5

0.5 seconds

Question 6

What is the capacity of the sensory register store?

Answer 6

3-5 items

Question 7

Describe the short term memory store of the multi-store model of memory.

Answer 7

Information that is given attention to in the sensory register moves to the short term memory.

Question 8

How is information encoded in the short term memory?

Answer 8

Encoding is acoustic

Question 9

What is the duration of information stored in the short term memory?

Answer 9

18-30 seconds

Question 10

What is the capacity of the short term memory?

Answer 10

(7+/-2) 5-9 items

Question 11

Describe the long term memory store of the multi store model of memory.

Answer 11

Information that is rehearsed moves into the long term memory.

Question 12

How is information encoded in the long term memory?

Answer 12

Encoding is semantic- through meaning.

Question 13

What is the duration of information stored in the long term memory?

Answer 13

Limitless (must be retrieved or else it will decay and be forgotten)

Question 14

What is the capacity of the long term memory store?

Answer 14

Limitless (must be retrieved or else it will decay and be forgotten)

Question 15

Give 2 weaknesses of the multi-store model of memory.

Answer 15

1-Evidence from case studies= HM could learn new skills like the mirror drawing activity, but couldn’t remember learning this. This suggests the LTM is not one single store, but a more complex store with more than one type of LTM
2-Reductionism= Zeignarik(1927) asked pps to complete simple tasks and puzzles and they were better at recalling these tasks if they had not finished completing them rather than if they hadn’t finished. The LTM is more complex.
3-STM and LTM interaction= Evidence that the STM uses information from the LTM. DeGroot(1966) says chess players remember positions of chess pieces as long as they are organised according to the rules of chess- the LTM helps the STM.
4-Low Ecological Validity= Relies on lab experiments with low ecological validity- may not reflect how memory works in the real world. Most of the experiments use the recall of lists of words which is not something we do in everyday life.

Question 16

Give 2 strengths of the multi-store model of memory.

Answer 16

1-Evidence from case studies= HM could use his STM in various psychological tests, but could not transfer this to his LTM. CW could do tasks using his STM but he could not remember doing any of these things- no LTM.
2-Brain Scanning Techniques= PET and fMRI scans have provided support for the existence of 2 separate memory stores. Squire et al(1993) found that the hippocampus is more active in LTM tasks, whereas the prefrontal cortex is more active during the STM tasks.
3-Serial Position Effect= Glanzer and Cunitz(1966) found that when given a list of words to remember, participants were more likely to remember the words at the start and end of the list- primacy and decency effect.
4-Laboratory Experiment= High degree of scientific credibility as they are highly controlled and replicable. Eg Baddeley(1966b), Sperling, Miller, Bahrick et al, Brady et al and Petersons. They all show that STM and LTM are different in terms of encoding, capacity, duration and supports MSMM view that these 3 memory stores are seperate and independent.

Question 17

Who is HM and what happened to him?
What were the effects on his STM and LTM?

Answer 17

He had severe epilepsy after a bike accident as a child- a doctor decided to remove his hippocampus to see if it would cure his epilepsy but it removed his LTM.
Intelligence was unimpaired and personality unchanged.
STM was working the same as the control groups- duration 20 seconds.

His LTM was severely affected- he could not make any new memories of events or people following the surgery. He also couldn’t remember any facts or information about the world around him.

Question 18

How does HM’s case both support and challenge the multi-store model of memory?

Answer 18

It supports the STM and LTM as they must both be different stores.
But, part of his LTM still worked (procedural memory)- he could still learn new motor skills such as drawing a picture from a reflection in a mirror, even though he had no memory of learning the new skill.
So- MSM also challenged as not complete as its not a complete explanation of memory.