ch 2 . ppt 1 - multistore model of memory

what is memory

memory is the ability to retain information or a representation of a past experience

what is memory explained using

memory is explained using the multi store model of memory, also called the two-process model

who proposed the multi-store model of memory

richard atkinson and richard shiffrin in 1968

why is it called the multi-store model of memory

it proposes that there are three distinct components to memory

what is the multi-store model of memory (HC) and why

it is a hypothetical construct the same way as consciousness and intelligence because it is an explanation that cannot be explained using empirical (experimental) evidence

what 3 basic processes does memory involve

encoding, storage and retrieval

explain encoding

transforming incoming information into mental representations that can be stored

explain storage

retaining that encoded information

explain retrieval

retrieving the encoded information from memory

what is received by the sensory register

a very large amount of information is received by the sensory register (sensory model) of the brain

what information gets passed to short term memory

only the most important information that is being attended to gets passed onto short term memory

what happens to other memory which is not passed onto short term memory?

it is forgotten

how much information can the sensory register hold, and how long does the information stay in the sensory register

it can hold almost an unlimited amount of information, but each piece of information stays in the register for just one to a few seconds

what is short term memory and how much information can it hold

7 +- 2 pieces of info at any of time (millers magical number)

without rehearsal, how long does information stay in short term memory

without rehearsal, it will be forgotten after 15-30 seconds

what does rehearsal do

rehearsal of a piece of information can keep it in short-term memory for longer than 30 seconds

what happens if a piece of information in short term memory reaches rehearsal threshold

if a piece of information in short term memory reaches rehearsal threshold then it will be passed to long-term memory

how much info can long term memory hold and for how long

long term memory can hold infinite number of pieces of information indefinitely, although information in long-term memory may decay with time

what does storage in long term memory involve

involves encoding by making physical changes to nuerons