A01 The Multi-store model of memory

• Atkinson-Shiffrin Model


  MSM describes how information flows through memory system and suggests that there are three systems linked by processing: sensory memory, short-term memory, and long-term memory
• sensory register

  A stimulus from the environment will pass into sensory registers that involve sight, sound and smells. Thus, this part of memory is not one store but several- one of each of our 5 senses
• Two main stores in sensory register

  Iconic memory- visual information coded visually and Echoic memory- auditory information coded acoustically
• Duration of sensory register


  lasts briefly around half a second but has a high capacity
• Info going through sensory registers

  Very little information going through the sensory registers pass into memory system unless you pay attention so the key process is attention
• Capacity of STM

  Very limited because it contains a certain number of things before forgetting takes place. Average capacity is 7 +/- 2 but research showed its 5
• Duration and coding of STM

  Information is coded acoustically and lasts around 18-30 seconds unless rehearsed
• Maintenance rehearsal

  A system for remembering involving repeating information to oneself without attempting to find meaning in it. If we rehearse long enough, the information passes onto LTM
• Capacity, duration and encoding of LTM

  Unlimited as LTM is a potentially permanent memory store for information that has been rehearsed for a prolonged time and can last for a very long time. LTM is coded semantically
• Retrieval


  The process of getting information out of memory storage where material stored in LTM is transferred back to STM when we recall it. This is true for all memories and no memories can be directly called from LTM