The Multistore model of memory

Sensory memory

Store where all immediate info is briefly held unless it is paid attention to

Encoding of Sensory Memory

Sense

Capacity of Sensory Memory

Huge

Duration of Sensory Memory

Milliseconds

Consequence of not using info from from Sensory Memory

Info decays

If sensory info is paid attention to

Info moves to Short Term Memory (STM)

STM

Memory store that has limited capacity and limited duration and is where info becomes conscious

Encoding of STM

Acoustically (Sound)

Capacity of STM

5-9 items (7+/-2)

Duration

18-30 secs

Consequences of not using info in the STM

If capacity is exceeded, info is displaced

If not rehearsed, info decays

Maintenance rehearsal

Rehearsing STM info so that it stays in the STM for a bit

If elaborative rehearsal is used on STM info

Info moves to Long Term Memory (LTM)

LTM

Memory store where info is permanently stored

Encoding of LTM

Semantically

Capacity of LTM

Unlimited

Duration of LTM

Unlimited

If LTM info fails to be retrieved

Moves to STM

Criticisms of MSM

Model is too reductionist. Research suggests STM is single store. This means it doesn’t explain how we deal with multiple sensory experiences at a time.

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Places too much importance on rehearsal over meaning. Suggests rehearsal is needed for becoming long term. However, traumatic/shocking events don’t need to be rehearsed to become long term.

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Other psychologists suggested thinking about meaning of what your trying to remember is more vital in transferring it to LTM than repeating it. By thinking about meaning, it process info more deeply which therefore embeds it more deeply in LTM. Shiffrin realised semantic processing was also vital so he added it to MSM as “elaborative rehearsal”