Multi store model of memory Flashcards
whats the must learn sentence for essay for MSM
Atkinson and Shiffrin’s MSM describes how information flows through memory
it is a structural model stating that SR STM and LTM are seperate unitary stores
and information flows through the system in a linear way
give ao1 of MSM
1) draw out the diagram
2) stimulus from environment (eg sound of someones name) will pass thru to SR this part of memory has several stores (one for each five senses) and coding in each store is modality specific
3) info in SR has duration of less than 0.5 seconds
capacity of SR is unlimited
4) info passes from SR to STM only if attention is paid to it if no attention is paid to it information decays
5) STM has limited capacity info of 5-9 items (Miller’s magic number) info in STM coded acoustically and duration of info is 18-30 secs unless it is rehearsed
6) if maintenance rehearsal occurs (repeating information to we) it can increase length of time the information held in STM if info rehearsed enough it will pas into LTM
7) LTM potentially permanent store for info that has been rehearsed for a prolonged time
psych’s believe capacity is unlimited and info can last a lifetime it codes semantically
8) to recall info it must be transferred from LTM to STM in a process called retrieval
give a strength into MSM
P - supported by r studies that show STM and LTM arre diff unitary stores
E - Baddeley found that ppts mixed up words that sound similar (acoustically) when using their STM but mixed up words that have similar meanings when using LTM
E - this study clearly suggests that coding in STM is acoustic and coding in LTM in semantic
L - this supports MSM because it supports view that STM and LTM ate separate stores
What is further research to support MSM
P - case study clive wearing
E - He sucfers from amnesia in which he cannot transfer information from his STM to LTM
this is evident as when his wife re- enters the room after leaving just seconds before , he greets her as if it is the first time he has seen her in years
L - this supports MSM because it shows STM and LTM are separate stores and that information must flow through in a linear way , first to STM then LTM
what is the discussion point for clive wearing?
P - however critics argue that the case study to support MSM is flawed. as it has low pop val
E - the research was a case study of just one person , Clive Wearing who has an unusual illness involving damage to the brain
L - therefore diff to GF to the wider population as their memory may operate diff , thus limiting the support that the r provides for MSM
Give a criticism of MSM
P - finally , MSM of rehearsal has been questioned 🤨
E - the theory states that the more a piece of information is rehearsed the more likely it is to transfer from STM to LTM
E- however r by creek and Watson has shown this rehearsal (maintenance) will only keep info in STM , and for information to be transferred to LTM elaborative rehearsal must take place
this occurs when information has been given meaning
L - moreover it is also argued that some information is remembered with out the need to constantly rehearse it eg emotionally important event
therefore MSM is flawed when explaining how info is transferred to LTM
