Questions and Answers
Who created the multi-store model and what is it?
Atkinson and Shiffrin (1968); The MSM is an information processing model of memory describing the flow between three permanent storage systems of memory: the sensory register (SR), short-term memory (STM), and long-term memory (LTM).
What is the duration of the sensory register?
A few milliseconds
What is the capacity of short-term memory according to Miller (1956)?
7 ± 2 chunks of information
What type of encoding is primarily used in short-term memory?
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The multi-store model claims that information in long-term memory can be forgotten.
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What does the primacy effect refer to?
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What provides evidence for the existence of separate short-term and long-term memory stores?
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How do case studies of HM and Clive Wearing support the multi-store model?
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The multi-store model is considered reductionist because it views STM and LTM as single unitary stores.
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What is one method MSM suggests to improve memory for eyewitnesses?
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The Working Memory Model is considered a less reliable framework compared to the Multi-Store Model.
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The Multi-Store Model was developed based on real-life memory tasks.
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Study Notes
Multi-Store Model of Memory (MSM)
- Developed by Atkinson and Shiffrin in 1968 to explain memory as an information processing system.
- Describes three main components: Sensory Register (SR), Short-Term Memory (STM), and Long-Term Memory (LTM).
- Attention and retrieval are critical for maintaining information across these stores.
Structure of the MSM
- Sensory Register: Holds information from the senses for a few milliseconds before decay; encoding is modality-specific.
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Short-Term Memory:
- Capacity of 7±2 chunks (Miller, 1956); encoded primarily phonologically.
- Duration of 12-30 seconds without rehearsal; rehearsal extends duration but prevents new info entry.
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Long-Term Memory:
- Can store information for a lifetime (Bahrick et al, 1975); capacity is potentially unlimited, with encoding being semantic.
Strengths of the MSM
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High Face Validity:
- Initially appears to correctly explain information flow through memory, but requires empirical research for full validation.
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Research Support from Primacy and Recency Effects:
- Findings from Glanzer & Cunitz (1966) show separate short and long-term stores based on recall patterns, supporting MSM's validity.
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Case Studies of HM and Clive Wearing:
- Both patients exhibit anterograde amnesia, retaining STM while losing new LTM formation, demonstrating separate memory systems in the brain and supporting MSM.
Weaknesses of the MSM
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Reductionist Nature:
- Oversimplifies memory systems as single stores; contemporary research suggests multi-faceted structures within STM and LTM, such as episodic and semantic memory.
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Working Memory Model Comparison:
- Baddeley & Hitch's model provides a more nuanced understanding of memory processes, suggesting MSM is less reliable or accurate.
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Ecological Validity Issues:
- Based on lab studies like the Brown-Peterson Technique, which lack ecological validity due to artificial conditions and tasks, limiting real-world applicability.
Applications of the MSM
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Memory Improvement Techniques:
- Emphasizes the importance of attention and rehearsal for effective encoding in eyewitness situations.
- Encourages practices like elaborative rehearsal and semantic encoding techniques (e.g., mind maps, color coding) for students and individuals with memory impairments like dementia.
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Description
Explore the multi-store model of memory created by Atkinson and Shiffrin in 1968. This quiz will help you understand the flow of information between sensory register, short-term memory, and long-term memory. Test your knowledge on the structure and function of this key memory model.
