The multi-store model of memory Flashcards
Define the term multi-store model of memory.
Proposed by Atkinson and Shiffrin it’s a representation of how memory works in terms of three stores called the sensory register, short-term memory (STM) and long term memory (LTM). It also describes how information is transferred from one store to another, what makes some memories last and what makes some disappear.
What is the sensory register?
The memory store for each of our five senses, such as vision (iconic store) and hearing (echoic store). Coding in the iconic sensory register is visual and in the echoic sensory register it’s acoustic. The capacity of the sensory register is huge but information lasts a very short time.
Short-term memory.
The limited-capacity memory store.
Capacity - Between 5 and 9 items.
Coding - Acoustic (sounds).
Duration - 18 seconds.
What is maintenance rehearsal?
Occurs when we repeat material to ourselves. We can keep the information in our STMs as long as we rehearse it. If we rehearse it long enough, it passes into long-term memory.
Long-term memory.
The permanent memory store.
Capacity - Unlimited.
Coding - Semantic.
Duration - Lifetime.
What is a strength of the multi-store memory model?
Research support showing that STM and LTM are different.
Baddeley
Studies of capacity and duration
Case study support of HM
Explain the research support that shows STM and LTM are different.
Baddeley found that we tend to mix up words that are similar when we are using our STMs. But we mix words with similar meanings when we use our LTMs.
Showing they’re independent memory stores.
What is a counterpoint of the research support?
Many of the studies that MSM lacks mundane realism as they use materials like digits, letters (Jacobs) and words (Baddeley) that doesn’t relate to the participants.
Explain HM’s case.
He underwent brain surgery for epilepsy the procedure was unsuccessful. A part of his brain known as the hippocampus was removed which is central to memory function.
HM’s LTM was badly damaged. He had no memory for events that happened just hours or even minutes earlier. His LTM never improved with practice either. But testing showed that his STM was much less badly affected.
HM performed well on tests of immediate memory span, a measure of STM.
What are the limitations of the multi-store memory model?
Evidence of more than one STM store - Shallice and Warrington.
Prolonged rehearsal isn’t needed for transfer to LTM instead elaborative is.
Explain Shallice and Warrington’s experiment.
They studied a client they referred to as KF who had amnesia. KF’s STM for digits was very poor when they were read out loud to him but recall was better when he read them to himself.
Further studies of KF showed that there could be another STM store for non-verbal sounds.
MSM wrong claiming there is just one STM store processing different types of information.
What did Craik and Watkins find?
That the type of rehearsal is more important than amount. Elaborative rehearsal is needed for long-term storage. This occurs when you link the information to existing knowledge or you think of what it means. This means that information can be transferred to LTM without prolonged rehearsal.
