multi-store model of memory Flashcards
what are the components of the multi-store model?
sensory register
- iconic memory
- echoic memory
- other memory
short term memory
long term memory
what is the sensory register?
the sensory register is where stimuli from the environment will pass through as well as lots of other sights, sounds, smells etc..
this part of the memory is not one store but several, one for each of our 5 senses
what are the two main stores in the sensory register?
- iconic memory (visual information is coded visually)
- echoic memory (sound, or auditory information is coded acoustically)
how long will material last in the sensory registers?
material only lasts very briefly, the duration is less than half a second
what is the capacity of the sensory register?
it has a very high capacity
e.g. over 100 million cells are in one eye, each collecting data
how much information in the sensory register will be passed further into the memory?
very little of what goes into the sensory register passes further into the memory system
BUT, it will if you pay attention to it
what is the short term memory?
it is a limited capacity store because it can only contain a certain number of ‘things’ before forgetting it takes place.
what is the capacity of the short term memory?
it is on average between 5-9 pieces of information (7+/-2), though research suggests its more likely to be 5 rather than 9)
how is information in the short term memory coded?
it is coded acoustically and lasts about 30 seconds unless its rehearsed.
what is maintenance rehearsal?
this occurs when we repeat material to ourselves over and over again. we can keep information in our STM as long as we rehearse it, if we rehearse it long enough, it passes into our LTM
what is the long term memory?
this is the potentially permanent memory store for information that has been rehearsed for a prolonged time
what is the capacity of the LTM?
its capacity is thought to be unlimited and can last many years (e.g. Bahrick et al. 1975 found that many of his participants were able to recognise names and faces of classmates almost 50 years after graduating)
how is the LTM coded?
it is coded semantically
what is retrieval?
when we want to recall information from the LTM, it has to be transferred back into the STM by a process called retrieval. according to the MSM, this is true of all our memories. none of them are recalled directly from the LTM.
AO3: how is ‘biological evidence’ a strength to the multi-store model of memory?
one strength to the multi store model of memory is that there is supporting biological evidence. for example, research from brain scanning techniques has supported the multi-store memory model and the idea of separate memory stores (i.e. a short term memory store and a long term memory store). for example, Squire et al used brain-scanning techniques and found that STM can be associated with activity in the prefrontal cortex and that the LTM can be associated with activity in the hippocampus. therefore, this increases the validity of the research as it provides biological evidence that the different types of memory are processed by different parts of the brain, and that the memory stores are distinct as the multi-store model suggests.
AO3: how is ‘supporting evidence’ a strength to the multi-store model of memory?
one strength to the multi-store model of memory is that there is supporting evidence. for example, the case of Clive wearing found that he could remember some things but not others, suggesting that there are different memory stores. this means that as he can remember some things from before his illness, they must be stored separately. as we have seen that one store is more impaired than the other, this suggests they are in fact separate stores. in Clive, it is found that his short term memory is impaired meaning he is unable to rehearse memory’s leading to the inability to create more long-term memories. therefore, this supports the view that the STM and LTM are separate and distinct stores and this supports the proposals of the MSM, as it shows that its possible to damage only one store of memory.
AO3: how is ‘conflicting evidence’ a limitation to the multi-store model of memory?
one limitation to the multi-store model of memory is that there is conflicting evidence. this is because case studies of brain damaged patients criticise the MSM. for example, the case of KF demonstrated that his deficit in the STM was for verbal information and that the STM for visual material was normal. this means that it is possible to only damage one part of the STM which goes against the multi-store models idea that the STM is a unitary store. therefore, this suggests that there may be more than one type of STM.
AO3: how is ‘too much emphasis on rehearsal’ a limitation to the multi-storied model of memory?
one limitation to the multi-store model of memory is that there is too much emphasis on on rehearsal. this is because the MSM suggested that rehearsal is the only method of transferring information from the STM to the LTM. however, rehearsal is not a very effective means of transfer and transfers usually occur with no rehersal. for example, some information is rehearsed but it doesn’t pass into the LTM, whereas other information is only looked at once and it goes straight into the LTM. therefore, the multi-store model lacks face validity as it is clear we do not always have to rehearse things in order to remember them and the MSM cant explain this.
