Multi-store model of memory

Question 1

Who came up with the multi store model?

Answer 1

Atkinson and Shiffrin

Question 2

Who came up with the working memory model?

Answer 2

Baddely and hitch

Question 3

What are the stores in the multi store model?

Answer 3

Sensory register, STM , LTM

Question 4

How is information moved from the STM to the LTM?

Answer 4

Rehearsal

Question 5

What is the duration of the sensory memory?

Answer 5

Less than half of a second.

Question 6

How is the sensory register coded?

Answer 6

It depends on the sense.

Question 7

What is the capacity of the sensory register?

Answer 7

Very high

Question 8

What is the duration of short term memory?

Answer 8

18-30 seconds.

Question 9

What is the capacity of short term memory?

Answer 9

7 +/- 2

Question 10

How is the short term memory coded?

Answer 10

Acoustically

Question 11

How is LTM coded?

Answer 11

Semantically

Question 12

What is the duration of LTM?

Answer 12

Up to a life time

Question 13

What is the capacity of LTM?

Answer 13

Unlimited

Question 14

Strength of the multi store model (research support from Baddely).

Answer 14

There is research support to show that the LTM and STM are different stores. For example, Baddely found that in the short term memory, we tend to mix up similar sounding words. This is because the short term memory is coded acoustically. However, in the long term memory, we tend to mix up words with similar meanings. This is because the long term memory is coded semantically. The fact that the two stores are coded differently shows that they must be separate.

Question 15

Limitation of the multi store model. (Oversimplified)

Answer 15

The model suggests that LTM and STM work in a single uniform fashion and do not interact with each each other. This is untrue and this has been provided in Baddely and Hitch’s development of the working memory model. This shows the several stores involved in the short term memory and how they communicate with the long term memory.

Question 16

Strength of multi store model (case study evidence of CW)

Answer 16

Clive wearing had amnesia and went into a coma. Ever since the coma he has been unable to put information into his long term memory. This means that he can use his short term memory for up to 30 seconds but this information can’t be stored in his long term memory as he cannot remember it. This shows that LTM and STM are different stores.

Question 17

Strength of multi store model (Henry molaison)

Answer 17

Henry molaison or HM underwent brain surgery due to his epilepsy. The procedure was in its infancy and in the surgery they removed his hippocampus which is central to memory. This meant that after the surgery he could not store new information into his long term memory. For example, he thought that in 1955 it was still 1953 and that he was 27 and not 31. This shows that the LTM and STM must be different stores.