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
