Multistore model

• What is the definition of memory?


  Memory is the process by which we retain information about past events.
• What are the three stages of memory?

  • Coding / encoding
  • Storage
  • Retrieval
• What happens during the coding stage of memory?


  Material received from the environment is processed through our senses.
• What occurs during the storage stage of memory?


  Information is filed away into memory for future use.
• What is retrieval in the context of memory?

  Retrieval is the process of finding and bringing stored information into the mind.
• What are the two assumptions of memory models in the Cognitive Approach?


  1. Memory consists of a number of unitary separate stores.
  2. Memory processes are sequential.
• What is the name of the theoretical model of memory discussed?

  The Multistore Model (MSM).
• What are the three permanent structures in the MSM model?


  1. Sensory Register
  2. Short Term Memory
  3. Long Term Memory
• How does information enter the Sensory Register?


  Information is gathered by the senses.
• What happens to information that is paid attention to in the Sensory Register?


  It is transferred to Short Term Memory (STM).
• What occurs to information that is processed in STM?


  It is transferred to Long Term Memory (LTM).
• What are the differences among the stages of memory in terms of coding, capacity, and duration?

  • Coding: Form information is stored in.
  • Capacity: Amount of information stored.
  • Duration: How long information is stored for.
• What is the Sensory Register (SR)?


  • Automatic response to sensory information.
  • All information in LTM passes through SR.
  • Functioning cannot be controlled.
• How is information encoded in the Sensory Register?


  Information is encoded differently for each sense.
• What are the names of the sensory registers for each sense?

  1. Auditory - Echoic
  2. Sight - Iconic
  3. Touch - Haptic
  4. Smell - Olfactory
  5. Taste - Gustatory
• What is the capacity of the Sensory Register?


  The capacity seems to be large, but only attended information is remembered.
• How long does information last in the Iconic store of the Sensory Register?


  Information lasts only milliseconds.
• What did Treisman (1964) find about the echoic store?


  Echoic information is stored for less than 2 seconds.
• What is Short Term Memory (STM)?


  • Temporarily stores information from SR.
  • Contains information currently being thought about.
  • Has different coding, duration, and capacity than LTM.
• What is the main form of coding in STM?


  The main form of coding is acoustic.
• What is maintenance rehearsal?


  Rehearsing information over and over to remember it.
• What is elaborative rehearsal?


  Creating a story with words to transfer memory to LTM.
• What is the capacity of STM according to Miller?


  Between 5-9 items, known as the "magic number 7".
• How can the capacity of STM be increased?


  By chunking information into larger units.
• What is the duration of STM?


  About 18-30 seconds, extended by rehearsal.
• What is Long Term Memory (LTM)?


  • Stores information over lengthy periods.
  • Includes information held for longer than 30 seconds.
  • Requires retrieval to transfer back to STM.
• How is information coded in LTM?


  Information is coded semantically, using meaning.
• What is the capacity of LTM?


  Unlimited, though testing this is difficult.
• What is the duration of LTM?


  Lifetime, though hard to test.
• What evidence supports the coding, capacity, and duration of the Sensory Register?


  • Crowder (1993): Iconic info lasts milliseconds; echoic lasts 2 seconds.
  • Sterling (1960): Capacity is vast; recall of letters was good.
  • Treisman (1964): Echoic register lasts 2 seconds.
• What evidence supports the coding, capacity, and duration of Short Term Memory?


  • Baddeley (1966): STM encodes acoustically.
  • Miller (1956): Capacity is 5-9 items.
  • Peterson (1959): Duration is less than 30 seconds.
• What evidence supports the coding, capacity, and duration of Long Term Memory?


  • Baddeley (1966): LTM encodes semantically.
  • Wagenaar (1986): Capacity is vast; excellent recall from diary.
  • Bahrick (1975): LTM duration is at least 50 years.
• What are the strengths of the Multistore Model of Memory?


  • Experimental evidence supports STM and LTM.
  • Case studies like HM support separate stores.
• What are the weaknesses of the Multistore Model of Memory?


  • Over-simplified model; different types of LTM exist.
  • STM may not be a single store; evidence from KF.
  • Rote rehearsal is not the only transfer method.
• How does HM's case study support the MSM model?


  HM could not store new events in LTM but had STM and old LTM memories.
• What does Clive Wearing's case imply about LTM?


  It suggests there may be different types of LTM, as he could play piano but not recall other memories.
• How does KF's case challenge the MSM's assumptions about STM?


  KF had difficulty with verbal information but normal processing of visual information.
• Why is the MSM considered reductionist?


  It suggests rote rehearsal is the only way to transfer thoughts from STM to LTM.