The Multi Store Model

• The Multi Store Model

  Developed by Atkinson and Shriffirn

  Shows how information flows
• MSM- Sensory Register

  First part of the memory system

  5 memory stores - iconic (visual info) and echoic (acoustic)

  High capacity - 100 million cells in one eye storing data

  Duration - Less than half a second

  Very little material passes but it will if you pay attention
• MSM- Short Term Memory

  Limited capacity of 7+/-2

  Coded acoustically

  Lasts 15 to 30 seconds

  Maintenance Rehearsal occurs when we repeat/rehearse material to ourselves over and over again

  If it takes place for long enough material will transfer to long term memory
• MSM - Long Term Memory

  Has an unlimited capacity

  Coded semantically

  Memories can last up to a lifetime

  When we recall information fro LTM it has to be transferred back to STM through retireval
• AO3 - MSM Case of HM +

  Underwent brain surgery in 1953 to relieve his epilepsy and his hippocampus was removed on both sides

  After his operation he could not make new memories - he could not remember anything that happened more than a few minutes previous

  Despite LTM not working properly, he performed well on tests of immediate memory span indicating his STM was still working
• AO3- Supporting Evidence +

  Baddeley showed that we mix up words that sound similar when using our STM and mix up words that have similar meanings when we use our LTM. Shows that STM is acoustic and LTM is semantic
• AO3 - Supporting Evidence +

  Peterson and Peterson with Bahrick et al shows that STM and LTM can hold information for vastly different durations which supports the idea that these two memory stores are separate
• AO3 - Opposing evidence -

  Evidence shows that there are separate STM stores for processing visual and auditory information not just one STM as the MSM states

  Shallice and Warrington studied patient KF and found that his STM for digits was poor when they were read out to him but his recall was much better when he read them himself
• AO3- Opposing Evidence -

  Craik and Watkins showed that prolonged maintenance rehearsal is not long enough to transfer information from the STM to the LTM and instead elaborative rehearsal is required to do this

  Elaborative rehearsal takes place when you think about the meaning of the information and link it to other information already stored in memory