Multi-Store Model Of Memory Flashcards
Who made the Multi-Store Model of Memory
Richard Atkinson and Richard Shiffrin (1968 and 1971)
Stimulus from Environment ——> ?
Sensory Register
Sensory Register ——> ?
Short-Term Memory
Short-Term Memory — ? —> Long-Term Memory
Prolonged Rehearsal and Maintenance Rehearsal
Short-Term Memory — ? —>
Response (remembering)
Long-Term Memory — ? —> Short-Term Memory
Retrieval
What is the Sensory Register
The memory stores for each of our 5 senses
Vision = Iconic Store
Hearing = Echoic Store
Coding in the Iconic Sensory Register is visual
Coding in the Echoic Sensory Register is acoustic
Capacity is huge
Duration is less than half a second
What is Maintenance Rehearsal
When we repeat and rehearse information to ourselves
We can keep the information in our STM as long as we rehearse it
If the information is rehearsed for long enough it passes into the LTM
What is Retrieval
Retrieval occurs when information is when information is transferred from the LTM into the STM when we want to recall it
Evaluation (STRENGTH) - Supporting Research Evidence
Supported by research studies that show the STM and LTM and qualitatively different
Baddeley (1966) -
Found that we tend to mix up words that sound similar when using our STM and words that have similar meanings when using our LTM
Evaluation (WEAKNESS) - There is more than one type of STM
MSM states the STM is a unitary store (only one type of STM)
Shallice and Warrington (1970) -
Evidence from people suffering from amnesia shows this isn’t true
Studied a patient with amnesia know as KF
KF’s STM for digits was very poor when they were read out loud to him
However his recall was much better when he read the digits to himself
Studies show there could be another STM store for non-verbal sounds (e.g. noises)
The working memory model includes these extra stores
Case of HM
Underwent brain surgery to relieve his epilepsy
The hippocampus was removed from both sides of the brain
When his memory was assessed in 1955 he thought it was 1953 and he was 27 years old (actually 31)
Had very little recall of the operation and couldn’t remember speaking with someone an hour earlier
His LTM was tested but never improved with practice
He did perform well on tests of immediate memory span (STM)
Evaluation (WEAKNESS) - Elaborative Rehearsal
Prolonged rehearsal is not needed to transfers to LTM
Suggests the MSM does not fully explain how long-term storage is achieved
Craik and Watkins (1973) -
Found that the type of rehearsal is more important than the amount
Elaborative rehearsal is needed for long-term storage
Evaluation (WEAKNESS) - Bygone Model
Atkinson and Shiffrin based the MSM on research evidence available at the time
Research suggests the LTM ,like STM, is not a single memory store
MSM is an oversimplified model of memory
Evaluation - Research Support (COUNTERPOINT)
Many studies used artificial and meaningless materials
Suggests MSM may not be a valid model of how memory works in our everyday life
