The MSM of Memory

• Researchers & Purpose:

  Atkinson and Shiffrin's MSM described how information flows through the memory system, suggesting there are 3 linked stores.
• Sensory Register:

  Stimuli from environment passes into sensory register, along with many more sensory information (this area stores our 5 senses). Main stores:

  Iconic Memory- visual info, coded visually.

  Echoic Memory- auditory info, coded acoustically.

  Material stays here briefly, less than half a second; they have a high capacity. Very little information passes, unless attention is payed.
• Short-Term Memory (STM)

  Limited capacity (7+/-2 according to Miller). STM is coded acoustically and lasts 30 seconds unless rehearsed. Maintenance Rehearsal (when we repeat material continuously) can keep info in our STM, if done long enough it passed to our LTM.
• Long-Term Memory (LTM)

  Potentially permanent memory store of information which has been rehearsed for prolonged time, (Bahrick et al). LTM is coded semantically, in terms of meaning.

  If information needs to be recalled, it is transferred back into STM: this is called retrieval. According to MSM, none of our memories are directly recalled from the LTM.
• AO3: Supporting Research Evidence

  Major strength is that there is research evidence to show STM and LTM are different. Baddeley found STM is coded acoustically, and LTM coded semantically. This demonstrates that the two stores are separate and different. Further support is given for capacity and duration.

  Though the stimuli used in these studies are often artificial, therefore the MSM may not be a valid model of how memory works in everyday life where info is more meaningful.
• AO3: More than one type of STM

  MSM states it is a unitary store, though evidence from patients suffering amnesia disproves this. Shallice and Warrington studied KF, finding his STM for digits was poor when heard, but better when read independently. Showing there may be a secondary store for non-verbal information. Though this is considered in the Working Model of Memory.
• AO3: More than one type of Rehearsal

  According to the MSM, its the frequency of rehearsal done to transfer it into LTM. However, Craik and Watkins found this was incorrect- it is about the type of rehearsal. Elaborative Rehearsal is needed for LTM storage. Occurring when you link the information to your existing knowledge or think about its meaning.
• AO3: Clinical Support

  The case of HM supports the MSM; after undergoing a surgery for his epilepsy, when the procedure was in its infancy, a crucial part of his brain called the hippocampus was removed from both hemispheres. This area is central to memory function.

  It resulted in him being unable to form new LTM, but despite this, he performed well on tests of STM. Demonstrating that STM and LTM are unitary stores, possibly differing in location.

  IDA: Idiographic, individual differences
• AO3: More than one type of LTM

  Tulving et al found evidence to suggest that there are 3 types of LTM: episodic, semantic, and procedural.

  Neuroimaging Evidence- Found that episodic and semantic were recalled from the prefrontal cortex (RH- Episodic; LH- Semantic). Provides evidence of the physical distinction between the types of LTM. Undermining the validity of the MSM.

  IDA: Reductionist