Multi Store Model of Memory Flashcards
What is the multi store model of memory?
The multi store model of memory describes the flow between three permanent storage systems of memory: the sensory memory, short term memory and long term memory.
Describe the capacity, encoding and duration of Sensory Memory
Sensory memory is where information from the senses is stored. It is sense specific and information lasts for less than half a second.
How does Sensory Memory move to Short Term Memory?
By paying attention to a certain thing.
Describe the capacity, encoding and duration of Short Term Memory
Short Term Memory has a capacity of up to 9 items, it encodes acoustically and information can last up to half a minute.
How does Short Term Memory move to Long Term Memory?
Through maintenance rehearsal
Describe the capacity, encoding and duration of Long Term Memory.
Long Term Memory encodes semantically and can hold unlimited information permanently
Give one strength of the multi store model of memory
There is research by Braddely to support the MSM. Braddely’s research proves that we encode acoustically in our short term memory and semantically in our long term memory. This supports the MSM because it shows there are 3 stores.
Give two weakness of the multi store model of memory
Braddely’s research used an artificial task. This is because the participants had to learn a list of words which is not a task that is representative of using short term memory and long term memory in real life. This reduces the validity of braddely’s research into different types of encoding.
The model is too simple as it suggests we only have one store for STM and one store for LTM
What is the primary effect?
The primary effect refers to what happens first. Words at the start are more likely to be recalled compared to words in the middle of the list. This is because they have been rehearsed quite well before they are recalled and have become long term memories
What is the recency effect?
The regency effect refers to what has happened more recently. The words that appear at the end of the list are more likely to be recalled than words in the middle as they have been heard most recently and will still be in short term memory
What is the serial position effect?
The serial position effect describes the tendency of people to recall the first and last words of a list. The position of the word on the list influences the likelihood of their recall.
