The Multi Store Memory Model

• Short term store (STM) - holds small amounts of info for short periods, can be consciously accessed
• Long term store (LTS) - unlimited capacity, information stored here is permanent unless lost due to brain damage or disease
• MSM assumptions


  Atkinson and Shiffrin -- assume our memory works sequentially with singular stores for STM and LTM. These unitary stores are separateThe MSM describes how information is processed
• How the MSM (Memory Storage Model) works


  1. Information from the environment enters the sensory register

  2. Information is split into iconic, echoic and other memory stores

  3. If paid attention, information is passed onto the STM (Short-Term Memory) store

  4. The rest is forgotten

  5. Sensory register has limited duration but large capacity

  6. Information in STM undergoes maintenance rehearsal

  7. Information eventually passes into the LTM (Long-Term Memory)

  8. STM has limited duration of 18-30 seconds and capacity of 7 +/- 2 items

  9. STM is coded acoustically

  10. Information in LTM remains for indefinite duration

  11. LTM has unlimited capacity, mainly coded semantically

  12. To retrieve information from LTM, it has to enter back into STM
• Outline the LTM store

  • 'Permanent' memory storage for information that has been rehearsed for a prolonged timeIt has an indefinite duration and has an unlimited capacity -- supported by Bahrick's high school yearbook studyLTM tend to be coded semantically-- Information cannot be recalled through the LTM, it has to be transferred back to the STM through retrieval.
• A03 points 


  Supporting research evidence

  More than one type of STM

  Simply rehearsing information doesn't transfer it into LTM

  More than one type of LTM
• Simply rehearsing information doesn't transfer it into LTM A03


  Craik and Watkins found maintenance rehearsal simply keeps information in the STM, rather than transferring it into LTM. Instead it was found, elaborative rehearsal is needed for LTM storage. This is when you link information to existing knowledge.This is a weakness as the MSM fails to include elaborative rehearsal into the model and instead only suggests prolonged and maintenance rehearsal. It fails to account for this type of rehearsal, so it is therefore an oversimplified explanation