Multi-store model of memory

Question 1

What are the components of the multi-store model of memory?

Answer 1

sensory memory
short-term memory
long-term memory

Question 2

What are the sub-units of sensory memory?

Answer 2

visual
auditory
olfactory
gustatory
haptic

Question 3

What is the capacity of sensory memory?

Answer 3

Unknown, but high

Question 4

What is the duration of sensory memory?

Answer 4

short:
iconic = ~1s
echoic = ~2-5s

Question 5

How is information transferred from sensory memory to short-term memory?

Answer 5

When attention is paid to it

Question 6

What can short-term memory do?

Answer 6

Can perform some information processing

Question 7

What is the capacity of short-term memory?

Answer 7

7±2 chunks of information

Question 8

What is the duration of short-term memory?

Answer 8

~30s

Question 9

What does rehearsal do to information stored in short-term memory?

Answer 9

Duration is increased and information is transferred to long-term memory

Question 10

How is information passed between STM and LTM?

Answer 10

rehearsal and retrieval

Question 11

How is information lost from STM?

Answer 11

displacement

Question 12

How can recall be improved?

Answer 12

chunking of information

Question 13

What is the capacity of long-term memory?

Answer 13

unknown, potentially unlimited

Question 14

What is the duration of long-term memory?

Answer 14

unclear, lifetime?

Question 15

What explains failure of LTM?

Answer 15

Evidence shows failure of LTM may be due to difficulty retrieving it rather than information no longer being stored

Question 16

What are the strengths of the multi-store model of memory?

Answer 16

• Provides a clear understanding of the structure and process of the STM - allows researchers to expand on and refine this model through further research
• The model is testable and has generated a large amount of research into memory, increasing its influence and validity.
• Significant research supports the theory of several memory stores
• Both experimental and biological case studies of patients with brain damage
• Experimental studies show differences between STM and LTM in terms of encoding, duration, and capacity.
• Can account for primacy & recency effects seen in recall tasks
• Biological case studies, such as HM, provide strong support:
• Could not form new long-term memories
• Short-term memory remained functional
• Supports the idea that STM and LTM are separate systems

Question 16

What are the limitations of the multi-store model of memory?

Answer 16

• Over-simplified - assumes each store works as an independent unit
• Does not explain memory distortion
• Does not explain why some things may be transferred to LTM with minimum rehearsal (e.g. vivid memories)
• Subsequent research shows that both STM and LTM are more complicated - STM contains central executive, visuospatial sketchpad…. More than one type of LTM - episodic memory (memories of events), procedural memory (knowledge of how to do things), semantic memory (general knowledge)
• Main emphasis on structure - tends to neglect the process elements of memory (e.g. only focuses on attention and maintenance rehearsal)

Question 17

Which studies can be used for the multi-store model of memory?

Answer 17

Glanzer & Cunitz (1966)
Sperling (1960)