the multi store model of memory

Question 1

what does the multi store memory model show?

Answer 1

shows memory consists of three separate stores and how information is moved between each of these stores.

Question 2

whose model is the MSM?

Answer 2

Attkinson and Shiffrin (1968)

Question 3

what are the three separate stores?

Answer 3

sensory register.
short term memory
long term memory

Question 4

describe the sensory register.

Answer 4

• info from the 5 senses is held here.
• has very large capacity but duration of milliseconds.
• info is only transferred to STM if attention is paid to it.

Question 5

describe the short term memory.

Answer 5

• capacity of 7+/-2, duration is 30 seconds, encoding is acoustic.
• info can be held in MSM with maintenance rehearsal, this then leads to being transferred to LTM.
• if not rehearsed it is forgotten.

Question 6

describe the long term memory.

Answer 6

• capacity is unlimited, duration is up to a lifetime, encoding is semantic.
• in order to use info stored in LTM, it must be retrieved into STM.

Question 7

describe the case of HM.

Answer 7

• he underwent surgery after an accident that damaged part of his memory.
• he had surgery to remove his hippocampus and amygdala to control his seizures.
• as a result of surgery, his seizures decreased but he could no longer form new memories or remember the prior 11 years of his life.

Question 8

evaluation of the MSM model 1

Answer 8

• supporting evidence: controlled lab studies on capacity, duration and encoding support the existence of a separate short term and long term store (which is the basis of MSM)
• studies using brain scanning techniques show there is a difference between STM and LTM.
• HM case study: operation aim was to reduce severe epilepsy he had suffered - his personality and intellect remained intact but he could not form new LTMs.

Question 9

evaluation of the MSM model 2

Answer 9

• MSM is too simple.
• LTM involves more than just maintenance rehearsal, Craik and Lockhart suggested that enduring memories are created by processing that you do rather than just repeating it - more complicated.
• Logie argues that STM relies on LTM rather than it being involved before LTM.