Multi store model of memory

• Multi-store model of memory

  Memory is composed of 3 sub stores: sensory register, short term memory and long term memory, all of which differ in terms of capacity, duration and coding
• Information processing in the multi-store model

  1. Information from stimuli enters sensory register

  2. Most information lost via spontaneous decay

  3. Attended information moves to short term memory

  4. If rehearsed, information enters long term memory

  5. Information can be recalled from long term memory to short term memory
• Evidence for the multi-store model

  • Case study of KF who had damaged short term memory but intact long term memory
• The multi-store model has been criticised for being oversimplified compared to other models like the working memory model</b>
• Sensory register


  Stores information from the senses for a very short time until the body's processing systems can decide what to do with it
• Most information in the sensory register is forgotten straight away via spontaneous decay
• Information only moves from sensory register to short term memory if it is paid attention to
• Sperling's results suggest the sensory register has a potentially unlimited capacity but very short duration
• Short term memory capacity

  1. 9 items (Miller: 7 +/- 2 items), can be increased through 'chunking'
• Jacobs' and Miller's experiments were high in control but may lack ecological validity
• Peterson's results suggest short term memory duration is limited to less than 18 seconds without rehearsal
• Bahrick's results suggest long term memory can have a potentially unlimited duration, especially with cues