Multistore memory model Flashcards
Theory
There are many models in psych to describe human mem, a well known theory is the MMM proposed by Atkinson & Shiffren(1968) .
This theory suggests that:
1. mem consists of 3 seperate components; sensory mem store, STM store, LTM store
2. info flows from sensory mem to LTM if certain conditions are met: attention & rote rehearsal
Components of mem store
- each characterised by duration, capacity & conditions required for it to move along to the next store
duration
how long info can be kept in the store
capacity
how much info can be kept there
Sensory mem
Duration: v short, 1 sec for vis stimulali, 2-5 for aud
Cap: everything in the perceptual field
Conditions: attention, if this is given it moves to STM
STM
Dur: generally no longer than 30s; rehearsal increases du
Cap: chunks of info
Conditions: rehearsal; makes info stay in STM longer & eventually enters LTM
LTM
Dur: not been established
Cap: not been establishes; potentially virtually unlimited
Conditions: N/A
Process of mem moving
according to model, info travels from sensory mem through STM to LTM. Rehearsal(that is mental repetition of the stimulus) is the main means of transferring info into LTM, where it can be stored indefinitely
However, not all info stored in LTM is easily retrievable
Research
although the model is simple, there are many aspects that require testing
- the whole model itself cannot be entirely tested within 1 research study
- just like any other model of complex mental processes, the MMM includes many aspects that generate many different predictions
- all these predictions must be tested separately in a series of research studies & info from all research must be combined to inform further development of the model
Memory
the process by which information is encoded, stored, and retrieved
HM context
HM hit his head when he was 9.
At 27 he suffered from severe seizures.
-Scoville performed an experimental surgery and removed his hippocampus.
-The seizures were controlled, but he could not form new memories.
-His procedural memory increased but his declarative did not.
HM & MMM
Supports the idea that our memory is composed of different stores. It provides biological information for the fact that there are different stores for memory and parts of the brain (e.g. the hippocampus) are responsible for the transfer of memory from the STM to the LTM
HM results
the capacity and duration be improved in the STM by chunking info
Miller (1966) found that by chunking data we are able to remember more information.
