Multi-Store Model of Memory

Question 1

Outline the muti-store model of memory (MSM)

Answer 1

• Atkinson and Shiffrin proposed the multi-store as it consists of 3 memory stores linked to each other by process that enable transfer of information from one store of the next
• (environmental stimuli) –> Sensory memory (attention) —>
  Short-term memory (maintenance rehearsal) —> Long-term memory <— (retrieval)

Question 2

What is the sensory register?

Answer 2

• The place where information is held at each of the senses and the corresponding areas of the brain.
• Is divided into different stores, iconic memory hold visual info and echoic memory holds acoustic info.
• Coding: modality specific, each store holds specific info
• Duration: sensory info lasts only around 250 milliseconds.
• Capacity: large, e.g. over 1 hundred million in 1 eye.

Question 3

What is attention?

Answer 3

If someone’s attention is focused on one of the memory stores, then the data is transferred to short-term memory. Attention is the first step in remembering something

Question 4

Describe short-term memory

Answer 4

• Information is held in STM so it can be used for immediate tasks.
• Coded acoustically: that inner voice
• Capacity: around 5-9 items of info (7 +- 2)
• Duration: 18-30 seconds unless rehearsed (maintenance rehearsal), rehearsal means it passes to long-term memory

Question 5

Describe long-term memory

Answer 5

• Coded semantically
• Capacity and duration is potentially unlimited
• In order to remember something we retrieve it from out LTM back into our STM

Question 6

What are strengths of the MSM?

Answer 6

• Supporting evidence. Studies using brain scanning techniques have showed a difference between STM and LTM. Beardsley found the prefrontal cortex is active during STM but not LTM tasks. Squire at al found the hippocampus is active when LTM is engaged. Provides support for the MSM
• Case studies. Scoville and Milner found that in a man (HM) in his brain damage operation, his hippocampus was removed to reduce the severe epilepsy he had suffered. HM’s personality and intellect remained intact but he couldn’t form new LTMs, but could remember things from before surgery. Supports the MSM’s notion of separate stores as HM couldn’t transfer information from his STM to LTM, but was able to retrieve information from before his surgery. However case studies cannot be generalised.

Question 7

What are limitations of the MSM?

Answer 7

• Too simplistic. Shallice and Warrington studied a man called KF, whose short-term forgetting of auditory info was much greater than of that of visual stimuli. In addition his auditory problems were limited to verbal material, like letters and digits but not meaningful sounds (phone ringing). Suggests that the STM isn’t a unitary store (acoustically) as the MSM suggests.
• Emphasis on maintenance rehearsal. Craik and Lockhart suggested enduring memories are created by the processes you do, not maintenance rehearsal. Things processed more deeply are more memorable. Craik and Tulving gave participants a list of nouns and asked a question involving shallow or deep processing. Participants remembered more words in the task involved deep processing rather than shallow processing. Suggests rehearsal doesn’t fully explain the creation of long-term memories