COGNITIVE APPROACH- Models of memory

Cognition

The mental action or process of acquiring knowledge and understanding through thought,experience, and the senses

Types of memory

semantic, episodic, procedural, and facial recognition

memory models

models that explain how we store information

Multi-Store Memory Model (MSM)

- an explanation of memory

- assumes there are three separate memory stores, and that information is transferred between these stores in a linear sequence.

- oversimplified

Three main stores of Multi-Store Memory Model (MSM)

sensory memory

short-term memory (STM)

long-term memory (LTM).

Sensory buffer (MSM)

- temporary store

-holds information from the environment briefly

Short-term memory (MSM)

Also known as working memory

Information enters STM if attention is paid to the stimuli.

When we recall something information is retrieved from LTM and enters the STM.

Limited capacity; lasts around 12 seconds

Long term memory (MSM)

If information in STM memory is rehearsed, it moves to LTM.

If it is not rehearsed, then the information will be lost and displaced.

Unlimited capacity, may last forever

Glanzer and Cunitz (1966) Aim

Multi Store Model

wanted to see if the interval of time between words on a list would increase the number of words recalled at the start of the list

(primacy effect)

Glanzer and Cunitz (1966) Procedure

- 240 Army enlisted men.

-Laboratory experiment

- Independent samples design.

- First given two 5-word practice lists so that they could learn the procedure.

- Divided into 6 conditions.

- The men were presented with 20 word list. All common one syllable words.

- The lists were the same for each group, except for the variation of time and repetition.

-Groups had either 3,6 or 9 seconds in between each word. Groups either heard the words repeated once, twice or zero.

- Participants then had 2 minutes to recall all the words.

Glanzer and Cunitz (1966) Findings

The increased time interval between words led to an increase in the recall of all words in the list except for those at the end of the list.

The effect of repetition on recall was limited to the 3-second rate. There was no significant effect on recall in the 6 or 9-second rates.

Glanzer and Cunitz (1966) Implications

• Supports the theory that the primacy effect is due to rehearsal of early words in the list.

• A longer interval before recall allowed more rehearsal, which improved overall recall from long-term memory.

Working Memory Model

expands on MSM model.

suggests that STM is not a single store but rather consists of a number of different stores.

Components seen in Working memory model

- Central executive

- Phonological loop

- Episodic buffer

- Visuospatial sketchpad

Central Executive

attention control system that monitors and coordinates the operations of the other subordinate components, which are called slave systems.

- limited capacity prevents multi-tasking

Phonological Loop

Auditory component

-Processes spoken and written material as well as external sounds

Visuo-Spatial Sketchpad

Visual component

-Processes and stores information in a visual form

-A temporary store for visual and spatial information.

Episodic Buffer

act as a temporary and passive display store until the information is needed.

- it can store visual and auditory information

-Responsible for conscious awareness

Landy and Bartling aim

WMM

investigate if articulatory suppression would influence recall of written list of phonologically dissimilar letters in serial recall

Landy and Bartling procedure

WMM

-34 undergraduate psychology students

- Independent samples design

-Laboratory experiment

- participants tested individually

-asked to recall list of letters

- participants randomly allocated into two groups:

1. control group- didn't preform articulatory task, saw list for 5 seconds and waited another 5 before answering

2. experimental group- preformed task with articulatory suppression task

-had answer sheet with 7 blanks in a row

Landy and Bartling Findings

WMM

- experimental group had lower scores than control group

- mean recall % of control group 75% compared to experimental group 45%

Landy and Bartling Implications

WMM

In line with the WMM

-articulatory suppression prevents rehearsal of phonological loop because of overload, resulting in less accurate working memory as it has a limited capacity.