The multi-store model of memory

Question 1

The multi-store model (Atkinson and Shiffrin, 1968)

Answer 1

Consists of 3 memory stores, the sensory register, short term memory & long-term memory.

Question 2

Sensory register

Answer 2

This is where information is held by all 5 senses.

Question 3

Capcity of sensory register

Answer 3

Very large, however most of the information is lost as it recieves no attention

Question 4

Duration of sensory register

Answer 4

Very limited (Milliseconds)

Question 5

STM capcity

Answer 5

7+/-2

Question 6

LTM Capcity and duration

Answer 6

Unlimited

Question 7

How can information that is stored in LTM be returned to STM?

Answer 7

Retrieval

Question 8

AO3

Question 9

One strength of the multi-store model
Miller (1956)
Bahrick et al. (1975)

Answer 9

P: Controlled lab experiment (e.g P&P, 1959) Support the existence of seperste short and long-term stores

E: For example, Miller (1956) found that the duration of STM is 7+/-2tt and Bahrick et al. (1975) found the duration of LTM is approx 48 years

E: This supports the idea of sepearte short and long-term memory stores which is the basis of the multi-store model.

Question 10

Another strength of multi-store model

Scoville and Milner (1957)

Answer 10

P: There is supporting case studies of brain-damaged individuals show that different areas involved in STM and LTM.

E: that HM’s brain damage was caused by an operation to remove both hippocampi. although he could remember things before the surgery (Scoville and Milner, 1957)

E: This provides support for the MSM as HM was unable to transfer info from his STM to LTM, but was able to retrieve memories from before his surgery.

Question 11

Criticism of Multi-store model - Overly simplistic

Answer 11

P: The multi-store model is critised to be simplistic

E: The MSM suggests that both STM and LTM are single ‘unitary’ stores. However, research does not support this idea

E: The WMM (Baddeley and Hitch, 1974) suggests that STM is divided into a number of different stores, Futhermore, research has also found different types of LTM e.g episode, procedural and sematic memory

L: This suggests that the MSM provides a simplistic model of memory and does not tae account the different types of STM and LTM.

Question 12

Another criticism of the MSM is that long-term memory involves more than just maintenance reherasal

Answer 12

E: Craik and Lockhart (1972) suggets that Long term memories are created by the level of processing and not rehersal.

E: Information that is processed more deeply is memorable bc od the way it is processed. Therefore, doing more complicated thing with info will make memories more induring

L: This suggets that the process of rehersal does not fully explain the process of remembering info in LTM

Question 13

What AO3 (Strengths) are using using for the MSM?

Answer 13

Supporting lab evidence - Miller (1956) & Bahrick et al. (1975)

Supporting case studies - Scoville and Milner (1957)

Question 14

What AO3 (Weaknesses) are you using for MSM?

Answer 14

long-term memory involves more than just maintenance reherasal - Craik and Lockhart (1972)

MSM being overly simplistic