The Multi-store Model

Question 1

Who proposed the multi-store model of memory (MSM)?

Answer 1

Atkinson and Shiffrin (1968)

Question 2

What does the MSM suggest?

Answer 2

Memory is made up of 3 stores, linked linearly by processing

Question 3

Sensory register coding, capacity and duration

Answer 3

Coding - modality specific (depends on the sense in which it enters)
Capacity - very large
Duration - very brief (<0.5s)

Question 4

STM coding, capacity and duration

Answer 4

Coding - mainly acoustically
Capacity - ≈7+-2 items
Duration - ≈18s (unless rehearsed)

Question 5

LTM coding, capacity and duration

Answer 5

Coding - mainly semantically
Capacity - potentially unlimited
Duration - potentially infinite

Question 6

Strengths of the MSM

Answer 6

• Supportive research from HM case study (eg. LTM was damaged, STM intact)
• Supportive brain scan evidence for STM and LTM being separate (eg. Prefrontal cortex active during STM , hippocampus when LTM engaged)

Question 7

Limitations of the MSM

Answer 7

• Role of maintenance rehearsal overemphasised (eg. Craik & Lockheart found deeper processing more effective)
• Too simplistic (eg. HM’s was able to develop procedural LTM but not semantic)