The Multi-Store model of Memory Flashcards
define Multi store model:
a representation of how memory works. There are 3 types of stores: sensory register, STM and LTM.
the MSM describes how information is transferred from one store to another and what makes some memories last longer than others
define sensory register:
Memory stores for our five senses
e.g. vision = iconic store (visual)
hearing - echoic store (acoustic)
sensory register capacity is huge - millions of receptors and info lasts for very short time
What was Atkinson and Shiffrin’s 1968, 1971 Multi Store Model?
It describes how info flows through the memory system. The model suggest that memory is made up of three stores which is linked by processing
explain what happens in the sensory register?
- all stimuli from environment pass into the SR, this part of the memory comprises several registers , one for each of our 5 senses
coding in each store is modality specific (meaning it depends on the sense)
what is the duration/ capacity of material in the SR like?
duration of material is very short (less than 1/2 sec
SR has very high capacity (over 100 million cells in one eye, each storing data)
information only passes into memory system if you pay attention to it, so attention is a key process
how is info in STM mainly coded?
acoustically and only lasts around 18 secs, unless it has been rehearsed
STM is more of a temporary store
what is capacity like in STM?
limited capacity store, it can only contain a certain number of ‘things’ before forgetting occurs
what is Maintenance rehearsal?
when we repeat/ rehearse material to ourselves over and over
info is kept in STM as long as it is rehearsed , if we rehearse long enough, it passes into LTM
explain LTM?
- potentially a permanent sotre for info which has been rehearsed for a prolonged time
-LTM’s coded mostly semantically (meaning)
- psychologists believe that LTM can last a lifetime (as seen in Bahrick’s 1975 study)
- capacity of LTM is suggested to be unlimited
according to the MSM…?
when we want to recall info from LTM, it has to be transferred back to STM through a process of retrival
Research support STRENGTH:
research support for the MSM showing that STM and LTM are different
e.g. Baddeley 1966 found we tend to mix up words that SOUND similar when using out STM
but we mix up words with similar MEANINGS when using LTM
-there is more support from studies about capacity and duration ,
which show that STM + LTM are separate/ independent memory stores, claimed by the MSM
counterpoint of this ?
- on everyday life, memories are formed related to all sorts of useful things, faces, places, names.
-but the studies which support MSM use digits , letters (Jacobs) , words (Baddeley) and consonant syllables with no meaning (Paterson and Peterson)
this means that the MSM may not be valid model of how memory works in everyday lives where we have to remember more meaningful information
LIMITATION for MSM- there is more than one STM store?
- Shallice and Warrington 1970 , studies a client (KF) who had a clinical memory disorder, amnesia
- KF’s STM for digits was very poor when they were read out loud to him
-KF’s recall was much better when he read digits to himself
further studies show that there could be another STM store for non-verbal sounds
what does this suggest?
that the MSM is wrong claiming that there is just one STM store processing different types of information (visual, auditory etc)
LIMITATION - elaborative rehearsal
prolonged rehearsal is not needed to transfer to LTM
-according to MSM , the amount of rehearsal is what matters , the more rehearsal, the more likely it will transfer to LTM (prolonged rehearsal)
Craik + Watkins 1973 found that the type of rehearsal is more important than the amount
- elaborative rehearsal is needed for LT storage : this occurs when you link the info to your existing knowledge - you think about what it means info can be transferred to LTM without prolonged rehearsal
