The multi store model of memory Flashcards
who proposed the MSM
Atkinson and Shiffrin (1968)
what does the MSM show
model how information is transferred into our memory through different processes. Model suggests memory is made up of three stores linked by processing, in a linear fashion.
sensory register
Info from external stimuli processed into the sensory register
Sensory register:
- Duration of less than half a second
- Coding is modality-specific as it depends on the sense
- Capacity is very high, for example there’s over 100 million cells in one eye, each storing data
If the info is paid attention to its then processed into the STM
short term memory
Short term memory:
- Duration of 18-30 seconds
- Encoded acoustically
- Capacity of 7 +/- 2 chunks of information
In order for info to stay in the STM it goes through a maintenance rehearsal loop.
For info to be processed into the LTM prolonged rehearsal must occur
long term memory
Long term memory:
- Duration can last up to a lifetime
- Encoded semantically
- Capacity is infinite
Information can be brought out of LTM and into the STM by retrieval
evaluation of MSM (brief)
strength - support from Clive Wearing
strength - support from Baddeley, however used artificial stimuli
weakness - KF refutes this model
Strengths of MSM
support comes from the case of Clive Wearing. He could only remember info for 20-30 seconds, however he could recall info from his past. Wearing was also unable to transfer info from his STM to his LTM. This supports the idea that memories are formed by passing info from one store to the next, in a linear fashion and damage to any part of the MSM can cause memory impairment. Therefore, this strengthens the validity of the MSM. However, due to the unique case of a brain-injured individual this case study doesn’t offer good support for the MSM as the results may not be generalisable to those without brain injuries
there’s support from studies showing that STM and LTM are different. Baddeley found that we tend to mix up words that are acoustically similar when using our STM. and words that are semantically similar when using our LTM. This study clearly shows that STM and LTM are separate and independent memory stores as claimed by the MSM. HOWEVER many of the studies that support the MSM used artificial stimuli which are not meaningful. This means the MSM might not be a valid model for how memory works in everyday life where we have to remember much more meaningful info.
weaknesses of MSM
other case studies refute this model. For example, KF who could recall stored info from his LTM but had issues with his STM. KF could remember visual images but unable to remember sounds. This suggests there’s at least two components within the STM. This suggests that the MSM may provide an over-simplified account of STM.
