2 Memory: multi-store model of memory

Question 1

What is the MSM? MSM

Answer 1

MSM is a memory model that explains the structure and flow of information within our memory system.

Question 2

What components are in the MSM? (and its stucture) MSM

Answer 2

MSM suggests the memory consists of:
- sensory memory
- short-term memory
- long-term memory
All in connected hierarchical form.

Question 3

What is the sensory memory? (i.e. capacity, duration… ect) MSM

Answer 3

SM holds information from our senses.
- Capacity : very large
- Duration : very short (less than 0.5s)
If we pay attention to it, it goes to our STM (we ignore most of it).

Question 4

What is the STM? (i.e. capacity, duration… ect) MSM

Answer 4

Information is transferred from the SM to STM through attention.
- Capacity : 7 ±2 (Baddeley 1966b)
- Duration : 18-30s (Peterson and Peterson, 1959)
Can be transferred to the LTM through rehearsal.

Question 5

What is the LTM? (i.e. capacity, duration… ect) MSM

Answer 5

Information is transferred from STM toLTMviarehearsal.
- Capacity : practically unlimited
- Duration : potentially unlimited (Bahrick et al, 1975, remembered faces after 50 years)
To recall information, it has to go back to the STM.

Question 6

What is a strength of the MSM? (hint - we mix up different words in stm and ltm) MSM

Answer 6

Baddely (1966a, b) found that we mix up words that sound similar when using STM, and we mix up words with similar meanings when using LTM.

• This suggests that the encoding of STM and LTM are different (acoustic & semantic), so they must different processes in the brain (i.e. MSM is right).

Question 7

What is a weakness of the MSM? (hint - KF’s stm bad when read to out loud, but not to himself…) MSM

Answer 7

The study by Shallice and Warrington (1970) suggests that there is more than one type of STM.
They studied KF who had a poor STM when read out loud but not when he read them to himself.

• This suggests that the MSM is incomplete, (e.g. STM may need parts for non-verbal and verbal).

Question 8

What is an application of the MSM? (hint - chunking can improve memory) MSM

Answer 8

MSM can help improve memory through the process of ‘Chunking’. If we combine in formation into groups, we can remember more (e.g. the letters C, A, T, D, O, G, P, E, N, are harder to remember than cat, dog, and pen.

• This shows that the ideas presented by MSM can be applied in practical ways, such as remmbering.