Multi Store Memory Model

Question 1

What is the Multi Store Memory Model?

Answer 1

• An explanation of memory proposed by Atkinson and Shiffrin which assumes there are 3 unitary memory stores, and that info is transferred between them in a linear sequence.

Question 2

What are the 3 main stores in the MSM?

Answer 2

• Sensory memory store.
• Short-term memory.
• Long-term memory.
• Each of the memory stores differs in the way information is processed (encoding), how much info can be stored (capacity) and for how long (duration).

Question 3

Encoding

Answer 3

• The way info is changed so that it can be stored in the memory. There are 3 main ways in which information can be coded:
  1. Visual
  2. Acoustic
  3. Semantic

Question 4

What is capacity and duration?

Answer 4

Capacity= how much info can be stored.
Duration= the period of time info can last in the memory stores.

Question 5

Sensory memory

Answer 5

Duration: 1/4 to 1/2 of a second.
Capacity: very large capacity (all sensory experience).
Encoding: sense specific (different stores for each sense).
- The sensory stores are constantly receiving info, but most of this receives no attention and remains in the sensory register for a very brief period of time.
- Information arrives from the 5 senses such as sight, sounds and touch.
- It can encode information from any of the senses and most of the information is lost through decay.

Question 6

Short term memory

Answer 6

Duration: 0-18 seconds.
Capacity: 7 +/- 2 items.
Encoding: mainly acoustic.
- Information is lost through displacement or decay.

Question 7

What is maintenance rehearsal?

Answer 7

• Verbally or mentally repeating info, which allows the duration of short-term memory to be extended beyond 30 seconds. This type of rehearsal usually involves repeating info without thinking about its meaning or connecting it to other info.
• If maintenance rehearsal does not occur then info is forgotten, and lost from the STM through the process of displacement or decay.

Question 8

What is continuous rehearsal?

Answer 8

• Continuous rehearsal ‘regenerates’ or ‘renews’ the information in the memory trace, thus making it a stronger memory when transferred to the LTM.

Question 9

Long term memory

Answer 9

Duration: Potentially unlimited.
Capacity: Potentially unlimited.
Encoding: Mainly semantic (but can be visual/ auditory).

Question 10

What is elaborative rehearsal?

Answer 10

• If info is given meaning (elaborative rehearsal) it is passed onto the LTM.
• Elaborative rehearsal involves the process of linking new info in a meaningful way with info already stored in the LTM.
• Elaborative rehearsal is more effective than maintenance rehearsal for remembering new information

Question 11

Evaluation of MSM- LTM

Answer 11

Point= there are different types of LTM (as proposed by Tuvling et al).
- The MSM does not represent this because it sees LTM as a single, unitary store.
- This also does not represent that some types of LTM can be retrieved unconsciously (e.g. procedural), whilst others must be retrieved consciously (e.g. semantic), which is not reflected in this model.

Question 12

Evaluation of the MSM- rehearsal

Answer 12

Point= the MSM suggests that the amount of maintenance rehearsal determines the likelihood that the info will be passed onto the LTM.
- Whereas Craik and Watkins suggest that it is the type of rehearsal which is more important.
- They suggest that elaborative rehearsal is needed instead to transfer information from the STM into the LTM, by making links with existing knowledge.
- This is a very serious limitation of the MSM because it is another research finding that cannot be explained by the model.

Question 13

Evaluation of the MSM: Research support

Answer 13

Point= supported by research studies that show that STM and LTM are different.
- Baddeley’s study found that we tend to mix up words that sound similar when using STM (acoustic), but mix up words that have similar meanings when we use LTM (semantic).
- This study shows that the coding in the STM and LTM are obviously different, therefore are separate unitary stores, supporting the MSM.

Question 14

Case studies- the MSM

Answer 14

KF= patient with amnesia.
- Found that KF’s short term memory for digits was very poor when they read them out loud to him. But his recall was much better when he was able to read them himself.
- Further studies of people with amnesia show that there could even be another short term store for non verbal info.
- This is a limitation of the MSM because it shows that there should be at least more than one STM, for visual and auditory info.