Multistore Model - Atkinson and Shiffrin

Question 1

list the 3 stores the model consists of

Answer 1

sensory register
short term memory (STM)
Long term memory (LTM)

Question 2

describe the duration process in sensory register

Answer 2

duration: retained for a brief period of time - usually less than 5 seconds

Question 3

define sensory register

Answer 3

refers to the info which your brain receives from all senses

Question 4

define short term memory (STM)

Answer 4

information that you are aware of (unlike sensory memory which you are mostly unaware of)

Question 5

describe the duration process in short term memory

Answer 5

information is stored for about 30 seconds. information in STM can be rehearsed to keep in there longer (e.g. repeating a phone number)

Question 6

describe the capacity process during sensory register

Answer 6

capacity: unlimited - all sensory info is registered. most info is discarded and only important information is stored into short term memory

Question 7

describe the encoding process during sensory register

Answer 7

encoding: information is rapidly encoded based on senses:

sounds - echoic memory: temporary store of auditory info

visual - iconic memory - temporary store of visual info (photographic memory)

Question 8

describe the capacity in short term memory

Answer 8

limited amount of info can be retained

Question 9

describe the encoding process in short term memory

Answer 9

rehearsal enables information to be retained longer in STM

Question 10

describe rehearsal and its 2 types (under encoding in STM)

Answer 10

rehearsal: process of actively and consciously manipulating information to keep it in STM for longer

maintenance rehearsal: repeating over and over either out loud (vocally) or in your head (sub-vocally) to extend the time the memory exists in STM (e.g. a phone number for immediate use)

elaborative rehearsal: actively processing information in order to shift it into LTM. links new info to existing knowledge in a meaningful way

Question 11

describe the duration in long term memory (LTM)

Answer 11

relatively permanent store of info

Question 12

describe the capacity of long term memory

Answer 12

unlimited (30 sec - forever)
information can decay overtime especially if its not retrieved often
info can be interfered with during storage and retrieval which can confuse associations

Question 13

describe the encoding in long term memory

Answer 13

encoding: LTM occurs through physical changes in the neurons and neural networks

Question 14

describe the 2 parts long term memory is split into during encoding

Answer 14

procedural memory: the knowledge of skills, habits or actions
- stores the “how to” knowledge or the way you do things
- these memories require little effort to retrieve and often take place more or less automatically
- may not be able to explain it to someone else because you just do it

declarative memory: “what” part of memory
- includes your knowledge of factual information and events
- able to explain how something is or what you remember

Question 15

what two parts is declarative memory split into in LTM

Answer 15

episodic - past personal events, an internal recollection of your life (LTM)

semantic - facts, wordly knowledge or general knowledge

Question 16

strengths of multistore model

Answer 16

• capable of remembering everything up to the injury (LTM) but unable to store anything new (STM)

Question 17

limitations of multistore model

Answer 17

• simple explanation that memory is one way
• suggests that rehearsal is the only way to transfer information into LTM