The multi-store model of memory Flashcards
what is the multi-store model
a representation of how memory works in terms of three stores called the sensory register, short-term memory and long-term memory
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 it is acoustic
the capacity of the sensory register is huge (millions of receptors), and the duration is very short (less than half a second)
describe atkinson and shiffrin’s multi-store model (1971)
stimulus from the environment > sensory register (iconic, echoic, other sensory stores),
> (attention) short-term memory store v response (remembering)
> (prolonged rehearsal) long-term memory
< maintenance rehearsal (rehearsal loop) short-term memory
< (retrieval) short-term memory
describe short-term memory
info in STM is coded mainly acoustically and last about 18 seconds unless it is rehearsed
limited capacity store, can only hold a certain number of items before forgetting occurs (between 5-9 items)
what is maintenance rehearsal
when we repeat material to ourselves over and over again, this will keep info in our STM and may pass into our LTM
describe long term memory
potentially permanent memory store for info that has been rehearsed for a prolonged time
coded mostly semantically
duration may be up to a lifetime
according to the MSM, when we want to recall info from LTM, it has to be transferred back into STM by retrieval
what is the research support showing the difference between STM and LTM (strength)
baddeley (1966) found that we tend to mix up words that sound similar when we are using our STM but we mix up words that have similar meanings when we use our LTM
further support shown from studies of capacity and duration
these studies show that STM and LTM are indeed separate memory stores as shown by MSM
what is a counterpoint for the research support (limitation)
in everyday life we form memories related to useful things, many of the studies that support the MSM uses meaningless stimuli, such as consonant syllables, digits and letters
this means that the MSM may not be a valid model of how memory works in everyday life
what is the evidence that there is more than one STM store (limitation)
shallice and warrington (1970) studied patient KF who had a clinical memory disorder called amnesia
KF’s STM for digits was very poor when they were read out loud to him, but his recall was much better when he read the digits to himself
this suggests that the MSM is wrong in claiming that there is just one STM processing different types of info
how is prolonged rehearsal not needed for transfer to LTM (limitation)
MSM claims prolonged rehearsal is important for transferal to LTM
however, Craik and Watkins (1973) found that the type of rehearsal is more important than the amount
elaborative rehearsal is needed for LT storage
this is when you link info to existing knowledge
this suggests that the MSM does not fully explain how long-term storage is achieved
