Multi Store Model of Memory Flashcards
the multi store model of memory (MSM)
4
an explanation and representation of memory first described by Atkinson and Shiffrin (1968)
consists of 3 separate memory stores linked to each other by the processes that transfer information between them
sees memory stores as permanent structural components of the memory system and intrinsic features of the human information processing system
x6 features... • sensory register • attention • short term memory • maintenance rehearsal • long term memory • retrieval
sensory register
3
the place where environmental stimulus enters + information is held at each of the senses (eyes, ears, etc) and the corresponding areas of the brain
very large capacity as the registers are constantly receiving information
however, most of this information receives no attention and will be lost as it only stays in the sensory register for a very brief duration (milliseconds)
attention
2
when attention is given to one of the sensory stores, the information is transferred to short term memory
attention is the first step in remembering something
short term memory
3
information is held in the STM so it can be used for immediate tasks
limited duration of around 18-20 seconds — information will decay relatively quickly unless rehearsed (by repeating things over and over again which is called maintenance rehearsal)
limited capacity of 7 +/- 2 items, meaning that if new information enters the STM it will displace existing information
maintenance rehearsal
2
repeating information over and over again which will eventually create a long term memory
Atkinson and Shiffrin proposed that the more information is rehearsed, the better it is remembered
long term memory
2
potentially unlimited duration and capacity
however, some information is forgotten over time due to retrieval failure or perhaps because it was never made a permanent memory
retrieval
1
the process of getting information from the LTM and passing it back to the STM so it is available for use again
KEY STUDY: Murdock (1962)
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conducted a study to investigate the serial position curve using a free recall technique
devised 5 lists of 10 commonly used words, lists were read out to participants who then had to write down as many as they could in any order
found that the words at the beginning and ends of the list were recalled the most
the words in the middle were recalled the least well because participants were focused on remembering the first words and ignored the words in the middle
but they could remember the last words because these had been heard most recently (primacy and recency effect)
x3 evaluation points
supported by laboratory studies
supported by case studies
reductionist
EVALUATION
supported by laboratory studies
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evidence from laboratory studies demonstrate clear differences between STM and LTM in terms of coding, capacity and duration
this supports the existence of 2 separate memory stores by illustrating distinct characteristics between them
for example, Peterson and Peterson (1959) found that duration of STM was only around 18-20 seconds whereas Bahrick (1975) found that duration of LTM was potentially unlimited and could last decades
furthermore, Baddeley (1966) found that STM is coded largely acoustically while the LTM is coded largely semantically
these studies support the idea that there are 2 separate memory stores which is a fundamental concept of the MSM
therefore, the MSM may have increased usefulness in explaining memory and can be said to provide an accurate representation of memory due to supporting evidence
EVALUATION lab studies (make it a double)
3
these studies were conducted in laboratories under highly controlled conditions
allowing variables to be precisely monitored to prevent them from interfering with the results
means that the results have high internal validity which increases their ability to support the MSM, giving the MSM as a whole increased reliability
EVALUATION
support from case studies
5
the MSM is supported by numerous case studies, such as that of Clive Wearing who suffered severe memory loss as a result of a virus
his STM is relatively in tact but his LTM has been destroyed, which is demonstrated in his ability to only remember information for about 20-30 seconds
he is also unable to transfer data from his STM to his LTM
supports the MSM by suggesting that there are 2 separate memory stores and that memories are formed by the transfer of information via retrieval and maintenance, both of which are key concepts of the MSM
therefore, the MSM may have increased reliability as it is supported by real life case studies that illustrate its key concepts
EVALUATION
reductionist
7
the MSM is overly simplistic and reductionist
describes STM and LTM as single unitary stores but there is research that contradicts this
for example, the case of Clive Wearing found that there are at least 3 different types of LTM; procedural, semantic and episodic
Wearing may have lost his LTM but he still had some procedural memory because he could still play the piano
STM is also far more complex than a single unitary store, as shown by the working memory model which argues that STM is made up of a central executive, phonological loop, visuo-spatial sketchpad and an episodic buffer
however, the MSM does not seem to consider the complexities of LTM and STM or take into account the different types, which could be seen as reducing memory to overly simplistic features and undermining it
therefore, the MSM may be limited in its ability to explain memory and should be viewed with caution when doing so as it may be providing an inaccurate representation of memory
