Multi-store model

• multi-store model image

  MSM:

  
• sensory register

  all stimuli passes into the SR

  made of several sensory memory stores

  coding is modality specific

  -> visual information is stored in the iconic memory

  -> acoustically coded information is stored in the echoic memory.

  duration of material is in the SR for less than half a second.

  high capacity

  information only passes further if you pay attention
• short-term memory

  a temporary store

  capacity of 7 +/-2

  lasts 18 seconds

  coded acoustically

  maintenance rehearsal causes the information to stay in the STM and if you rehearse enough it will go into the LTM
• long-term memory

  potentially permanent memory store for information that has been rehearsed for a prolonged amount of time.

  code semantically.

  duration up to a lifetime.

  when you want to recall information from the LTM, it has to be transferred back to the STM by retrieval
• strength - research support

  Baddeley's study,

  Showed the difference between LTM and STM which supports them as separate memory stores as claimed by the MSM
• counterpoint - research support

  Many studies which support MSM don't use everyday stimuli such as people's faces and names, facts, places.

  e.g. Jacobs used digits, Peterson + Peterson used consonant syllables, Baddeley used words.

  Means the MSM may not be valid in everyday lives.
• limitation - more than one STM store.

  There is evidence of more than one STM sore.

  Shallice + Warrington.

  Studied client KF who had amnesia.

  KF's STM for digits was poor when they were read out loud but recall was better when he read them himself.

  Showed that there could be multiple stores (visual, auditory)

  This suggests the MSM is wrong claiming there is only one STM store
• Limitation - elaborative rehearsal

  Prolonged rehearsal isn't needed for transfer to the LTM

  Craik + Watkins

  Found the type of rehearsal is more important than the amount.

  Elaborative rehearsal is needed for long-term storage, occurs when you link the information to existing knowledge.

  Means prolonged rehearsal isn't needed.