Multi-store model

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Created by
Emma

Cards (7)

  • The multi-store model of memory has 3 unitary stores: the sensory register, the short-term memory store and the long-term memory store.
  • The sensory register is where information from the senses is stored, but only for a duration of approximately half a second before it is forgotten. It has a very high capacity and information is encoded based on the sense. For example, the store coding for visual information is iconic memory & the store coding acoustically is echoic memory etc. Information passes on to STM if you pay attention to it.
  • Short-term memory is encoded mainly acoustically and the duration is about 18 seconds unless it's rehearsed. The capacity of the STM is about 5-9 items. Maintenance rehearsal keep information in our STM for longer than 18 seconds. It occurs when we repeat material to ourselves over and over again. We can keep the info in our STM as long as we rehearse it. If we rehearse it long enough, it will pass into our LTM.
  • Long-term memory encodes its information semantically. The duration is for a lifetime and the capacity is unlimited. When we want to recall information from our LTM, it has to be transferred back into our STM by a process called retrieval.
  • Multi-store model of memory
  • EVALUATION OF MSM:
    • Baddeley’s research into coding and the studies into capacity and duration support the assumptions of the MSM.
    • The case of KF weakens the MSM. KF suffered from amnesia, and was able to recall visual information without difficulty, but had problems recalling verbally presented information. This suggests there is more than one type of STM store, so the MSM is too simplistic.
  • EVALUATION OF MSM:
    • The case of HM could be used to support the model. HM underwent an operation to remove his hippocampus in an attempt to relive symptoms of epilepsy. Afterwards, his STM seemed unaffected, but he was unable to make new long-term memories. His LTM from before the procedure was intact. This suggests that the link between STM and LTM had been broken, supporting the assumptions of the MSM.