Models of Memory

Question 1

Describe the multi-store model of memory.

Answer 1

The multi-store model of memory, proposed by Atkinson and Shiffrin in 1968, consists of three separate components: sensory memory store, short-term memory store (STM), and long-term memory store (LTM), which work together to encode, store, and retrieve information.

Question 2

Define sensory memory store.

Answer 2

Sensory memory store detects information and holds it until it is either transferred to short-term memory or lost, with a duration of 2-5 seconds and limited by perception.

Question 3

What is the capacity and duration of short-term memory store (STM)?

Answer 3

The capacity of short-term memory store (STM) is 5-9 chunks of information, and it lasts for about 30 seconds.

Question 4

Explain how information moves from short-term memory to long-term memory.

Answer 4

Information in short-term memory (STM) enters long-term memory (LTM) only if it is rehearsed.

Question 5

Describe the role of attention in memory processing.

Answer 5

Attention is crucial as sensory information only enters short-term memory (STM) if attention is paid to it.

Question 6

What is the serial position effect?

Answer 6

The serial position effect is the tendency to recall the first and last items on a list, supporting the idea that short-term memory (STM) and long-term memory (LTM) are separate memory stores.

Question 7

Identify a study that supports the multi-store model of memory.

Answer 7

Sperling’s (1960) study supports the multi-store model by demonstrating how sensory memory can hold information briefly before it is lost.

Question 8

What are the criticisms of the multi-store model of memory?

Answer 8

Criticisms of the multi-store model include its inability to observe the components of the model, the absence of a clear psychological basis, a focus on structure rather than process, and the explanation of information flow in only one direction.

Question 9

Describe the working memory model developed by Baddeley and Hitch.

Answer 9

The working memory model, developed by Baddeley and Hitch in 1974, focuses on the structure of short-term memory and consists of four components, including a central executive that coordinates three subsystems.

Question 10

What is the function of the central executive in the working memory model?

Answer 10

The central executive is the component that coordinates the three subsystems of the working memory model.

Question 11

Define the visuospatial sketchpad in the context of the working memory model.

Answer 11

The visuospatial sketchpad, referred to as ‘the inner eye,’ holds visual and spatial information within the working memory model.

Question 12

Describe the function of the Phonological Loop in the Working Memory model.

Answer 12

The Phonological Loop holds sound information and is subdivided into the phonological store and the articulatory rehearsal component.

Question 13

How does the Episodic Buffer contribute to memory processing?

Answer 13

The Episodic Buffer integrates information from other components and links this information to long-term memory structures.

Question 14

Identify the components of the Working Memory model.

Answer 14

The components of the Working Memory model include the Central Executive, Phonological Loop, Visuospatial Sketchpad, and Episodic Buffer.

Question 15

What did Conrad and Hull (1964) demonstrate in their study on memory?

Answer 15

Conrad and Hull demonstrated the phonological similarity effect, finding that rhyming lists of letters were more difficult to remember.

Question 16

Explain the concept of articulatory suppression as explored by Baddeley, Lewis, and Vallar (1984).

Answer 16

Articulatory suppression is a method that blocks the ‘inner voice’ or articulatory rehearsal component, affecting memory recall.

Question 17

Evaluate the Working Memory model in comparison to the Multi-store memory model.

Answer 17

The Working Memory model is more sophisticated than the Multi-store memory model and explains a wider range of phenomena.

Question 18

What evidence supports the existence of separate components in the Working Memory model?

Answer 18

Subsequent research has shown physiological correlates, with different brain areas activating when tasks engage the phonological loop or the visuospatial sketchpad.

Question 19

Define memory in the context of cognitive processes.

Answer 19

Memory is a cognitive process used to encode, store, and retrieve information.

Question 20

Outline the three components of the Multi-Store Memory Model proposed by Atkinson & Shiffrin.

Answer 20

The three components are Sensory Memory, Short-Term Memory, and Long-Term Memory.

Question 21

How long does Sensory Memory hold information, and what types does it include?

Answer 21

Sensory Memory holds iconic (visual) and echoic (audio) memory for 2-5 seconds without processing the information.

Question 22

What is the capacity of Short-Term Memory, and how does information transfer to Long-Term Memory?

Answer 22

Short-Term Memory has a capacity of around 7 +/- 2 chunks of information, and rehearsed information can be consolidated and transferred into Long-Term Memory.

Question 23

Discuss the duration of information storage in Long-Term Memory.

Answer 23

Long-Term Memory stores large amounts of information for indefinite periods of time.

Question 24

Are the memory stores in the Multi-Store Memory Model considered separate?

Answer 24

Yes, the memory stores in the Multi-Store Memory Model are considered separate.

Question 25

Describe the procedure used in Sperling’s 1960 study on iconic memory.

Answer 25

Participants were presented with a 12 character alphanumeric grid for 50 milliseconds. They were then asked to recall the characters in two conditions: Whole Report, where they filled out an empty grid, and Partial Report, where they recalled one row based on a tone.

Question 26

What were the average recall scores in the Whole Report and Partial Report conditions of Sperling’s study?

Answer 26

In the Whole Report condition, the average score was 4 out of 12 (35%). In the Partial Report condition, participants recalled an average of 3 out of 4 characters from the indicated row, indicating that 75% of the entire grid was accessible.

Question 27

How does Sperling’s study conclude about the duration of visual stimuli in memory?

Answer 27

The study concluded that a trace of visual stimulus remains in memory for a short period, allowing attended information to be transferred into short-term memory (STM).

Question 28

Define the serial position effect as demonstrated in Glanzer and Cunitz’s 1966 study.

Answer 28

The serial position effect refers to the tendency to recall the first (primacy effect) and last items (recency effect) on a list better than the middle items.

Question 29

What was the procedure followed in Glanzer and Cunitz’s study involving Army-enlisted men?

Answer 29

Participants memorized lists of 20 one-syllable nouns and then completed a free-recall task after a 2-minute delay.

Question 30

How did the filler task in Glanzer and Cunitz’s study affect recall of the last items on the list?

Answer 30

The filler task, which involved counting backwards for 30 seconds, prevented rehearsal and resulted in participants being unable to recall the last items on the list, demonstrating the recency effect was disrupted.

Question 31

Discuss the implications of the findings from Glanzer and Cunitz’s study on the structure of memory.

Answer 31

The findings support the idea that short-term memory (STM) and long-term memory (LTM) are separate memory stores, as evidenced by the distinct recall patterns for items at different positions in the list.

Question 32

How does the concept of rote rehearsal relate to the transfer of information from STM to LTM?

Answer 32

Rote rehearsal is often considered an oversimplified mechanism for transferring information from short-term memory (STM) to long-term memory (LTM), suggesting that it may not be the only method for this transfer.

Question 33

What does the research suggest about the flow of information in memory systems?

Answer 33

The research raises questions about whether information flows in one direction, particularly in the context of transferring information from short-term memory (STM) to long-term memory (LTM).

Question 34

Describe the levels of processing model proposed by Craik & Lockhart.

Answer 34

The levels of processing model suggests that memory retention is influenced by the depth of processing, with shallow processing involving structural and phonetic processing, and deep processing involving semantic processing that creates meaningful connections to prior knowledge.

Question 35

How does shallow processing differ from deep processing?

Answer 35

Shallow processing involves structural and phonetic processing, often through rote rehearsal, while deep processing involves semantic processing that connects new information to existing knowledge, leading to better memory retention.

Question 36

Summarize the findings of the Craik & Tulving (1975) study.

Answer 36

The study found that memory recall and recognition were significantly better for words that were preceded by a semantic question compared to those preceded by structural or phonetic questions.

Question 37

Explain the concept of bidirectional flow in memory processing.

Answer 37

Bidirectional flow suggests that information can flow in both directions, meaning that long-term memory (LTM) can influence the encoding stage of memory, contrary to the idea that information flows in only one direction.

Question 38

Define the three stores of long-term memory (LTM).

Answer 38

The three stores of long-term memory are episodic memory (personal experiences), procedural memory (skills and tasks), and semantic memory (facts and knowledge).

Question 39

What are the arguments against the unitary store model of short-term memory (STM)?

Answer 39

Arguments against the unitary store model suggest that STM may have subcomponents, allowing for the storage of both visual and audio information, and that it can support dual tasks.

Question 40

Describe the findings of Conrad & Hull (1964) regarding phonological store.

Answer 40

Conrad & Hull found that participants had difficulty recalling a list of rhyming letters due to the phonological store, which processes sounds.

Question 41

How did Baddeley, Lewis, and Vallar (1984) demonstrate the role of the articulatory control system?

Answer 41

They showed that suppression of the articulatory control system made it difficult to recall spoken rhyming words, while written words were easier to recall, indicating the influence of the phonological store and visuospatial sketchpad.

Question 42

What was the focus of Baddeley’s 1996 study on the central executive?

Answer 42

Baddeley’s 1996 study focused on how impairing the central executive by verbally alternating letters and numbers reduced the randomness of digits pressed on a keyboard, highlighting the role of attention in memory processing.

Question 43

List one strength and one limitation of the Working Memory Model (WMM).

Answer 43

A strength of the WMM is its sophisticated structure with three stores for short-term memory, which explains dual task ability. A limitation is that it is difficult to test empirically and has an unclear role of the episodic buffer.