The Multi-store model of memory

• Capacity = how much information can be held
• Duration = how long the information can be stored for
• Coding = how the information is processed into something that can be stored
• The model includes:

  • transfer of info through 3 separate unitary stores (sensory register, short-term memory, long-term memory)
  • It is a structural model of memory where information passes from store to store in a linear way
• Sensory register:

  capacity: unlimited

  duration: 250 milliseconds

  coding: modality specific
• Short-term memory:

  capacity: 7+-2 (5-9 items)

  duration: 18-30 seconds

  coding: acoustically
• Long-term memory:

  capacity: potentially unlimited

  duration: potentially forever

  coding: semantically
• Strength: Evidence to support the model from case studies. Patient H.M had his hippocampus removed and could no longer form new long term memories but short term memories were normal. This supports the model as H.M shows that STM and LTM must be separate stores otherwise STM would have been damaged as well.
• Strength: further evidence acting as support for the model are brain scans (e.g. fMRI scans have shown that different areas of the brain are active when doing different types of memory tasks, STM is in the prefrontal cortex, LTM is in the hippocampus) It provides physical evidence for the separate stores as it demonstrates that different areas have different levels of activity.
• Limitation: there are different forms of rehearsal, Craik & Watkins showed that the depth of learning leads to LTM rather than simple repetition. Elaborative rehearsal is when the more deeply you process something, the more likely you are to remember it. This reading finding can't be explained by the model. This means it can't be considered a complete explanation of memory.
• Limitation: doesn't account for all types of memory. Some things are more easily recalled, even without rehearsal. These are called flashbulb memories. The MSM can't account for flashbulb memories so it can't be considered complete.
• Limitation: memory stores are not unitary, working memory model shows that STM is not unitary. Evidence shows there are different types of LTM. This means that the MSM is an oversimplified explanation.