Atkinson and Shiffrin's multistore model of memory

Describe Atkinson and Shiffrin's multistore model of memory

• 3 separate memory stores - sensory memory, short-term memory (STM) and long-term memory (LTM)

• Information transferred between these stores in a linear sequence

In what 3 ways do memory stores differ from each other?

The way information id processed (encoding), how much information can be stored (capacity) and for how long (duration)

Define coding

Changing the format of information for use in memory

Define capacity

The amount of information that can be held in memory

Define duration

The length of time information remains in memory

What are the three types of encoding?

Visual (picture), acoustic (sound), semantic (meaning)

Describe the encoding, capacity and duration of the sensory memory

Encoding: sense specific (different stores for each sense)

Capacity: all sensory experience (very large capacity)

Duration: ¼ - ½ second

How is information transferred from the sensory memory to the STM?

If the person’s attention is focused on one of the sensory stores

Describe the encoding, capacity and duration of the short-term memory memory

Encoding: mainly auditory

Capacity: 7 +/- 2 items

Duration: 0 - 18 seconds

How is information made stronger before being transferred from the STM to the LTM?

By maintenance rehearsal - the process of verbally/mentally repeating information (it extends duration of STM to 30s)

What happens if maintenance rehearsal does not occur?

Information is forgotten through processes of displacement or decay

How is information transferred from the STM to the LTM?

Through elaborative rehearsal - this involves the process of linking information meaningfully to another information already stored in the LTM

Describe the encoding, capacity and duration of the long-term memory memory

Encoding: mainly semantic (but can be visual / auditory)

Capacity: unlimited!!!

Duration: unlimited!!!