the multi-store model of memory Flashcards
who developed multi-store model
Atkinson and Shiffrin
when was multi-store model developed
1968,1971
what does multi-store model show
describes how information flows through the memory system. suggests memory is made up of 3 stores linked by processing
multi-store model definition
a representation of how memory works in terms of 3 stores called the sensory register, short-term memory (STM), 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 memories disappear
what does sensory register do
stimuli from environment pass into sensory register. this part of memory comprises several registers (sensory memory stores), one for each of our 5 senses
sensory register coding for visual information
iconic memory
sensory register coding for acoustic information
echoic memory
sensory register coding
modality specific for each store
what are the 5 sensory stores in the sensory register
visual,acoustic, touch, taste and smell
sensory register duration
less than half a second
sensory register capacity
high, for example there are over 100 million cells in one eye, each storing data
when does information pass from sensory register further into memory system
if you pay attention
short-term memory coding
mainly acoustically
short-term memory duration
18 seconds unless rehearsed
short-term memory capacity
limited as can only contain a certain number of things before forgetting occurs. capacity is between 5-9 items, but Cowan’s research suggests it is more like 5
what is maintenance rehearsal
when we repeat material to ourselves over and over again
why do we do maintenance rehearsal
keep information is short-term memory for as long as we rehearse it, if we rehearse long enough it passes onto long-term memory
when does short-term memory pass into long-term memory
when we have rehearsed it for long enough
what is long-term memory
potentially permanent memory store for information that has been rehearsed for a prolonged time
long-term memory coding
mostly semantically
long-term memory duration
potentially up to a lifetime
evidence long-term memory duration may be up to a lifetime
Bahrick et al found many participants were able to recognise names and faces of their school classmates almost 50 years after graduating
long-term memory capacity
practically unlimited
recall of long-term memory
it has to be transferred back into short-term memory by a process called retrival
what happened to HM
underwent brain surgery to relieve epilepsy. but, the procedure used was not fully understood and the hippocampus was removed from both sides of his brain –> which we now know to be central to memory function
what surgery did HM have
to relieve epilepsy
what part of HM’s brain was removed
hippocampus on both sides
what does hippocampus do
central to memory function
what happened to HM’s memory
-couldn’t form new long-term memories such as could not recall what had happened earlier in the same day
-performed well on tests of immediate memory span (STM)
strength of MSM ~ research support
-studies showing that STM and LTM are different
-Baddely found we mix up words that sound similar when using STM, but mix up words that have similar meanings when using LTM –> shows STM and LTM are different sperate stores as MSM claims
limitation of MSM ~ counterpoint to research support
in everyday life we form memories related to useful things, but many studies supporting MSM use digits, letters and words which are not useful are are know as constant syllables that have no meaning –> MSM may not be valid model of how memory works in everyday lives when we have to remember more meaningful information
limitation of MSM ~ more than one STM store
-Shallice and Warrington (1970) studied client KF who had amnesia. KF STM for digits was very poor when read aloud to him but much better when he read the digits himself
-further studies show there could be another STM store for non-verbal sounds –> suggests MSM is wrong in claiming there is one store from STM processing different types of information
limitation of MSM ~elaborative rehearsal
-prolonged rehearsal is not needed for transfer to LTM
-MSM says what matters about rehearsal is the amount of it as the more you rehearse, the more likely you are transfer to LTM (prolonged rehearsal). Craik and Watkins found elaborative rehearsal is needed for long-term storage. this occurs when you link the information existing knowledge or think about what it means, so info can be transferred to LTM without prolonged rehearsal –> MSM does not explain fully how long-term storage is achieved
MSM evaluation ~ Bygone model
-Atkinson and Shiffrin based MSM on research evidence as the time showing STM and LTM to be single memory stores, seperate and independent from each other
-however, there is research evidence for LTM, like STM is not a single store. this combined with research showing there is more than one type of STM, more than one type of rehearsal, MSM is an oversimplified model of memory
what is elaborative rehearsal
linking the information to existing knowledge or think about what it means
