Models of Memory (X)

Define memory

Active process of storing, retrieving and organising information

Define the multi-store model of memory

• Atkinson and Shiffrin (1968)

• Information processed through multiple memory stores (sensory memory, short term memory, long term memory)

Define sensory memory (Atkinson & Shiffrin 1968)

• Information enters through sensory organs

• Requires attention to be encoded into STM

Define types of sensory memory (Atkinson & Shiffrin 1968)

• Iconic memory: sensory register for visual information (icons)

• Unlimited capacity and duration of 0.2 - 0.4 seconds

• Echoic memory: sensory register for auditory information

• Unlimited capacity and duration of 3 - 4 seconds

Define short term memory (Atkinson & Shiffrin 1968)

• Stores limited amount of information from STM or retrieved from LTM for a limited amount of time 

• Capacity of 7 (+/- 2) and duration of 18 - 30 seconds

• Encoding: primarily auditory (partially visual)

• Rehearsal to encode information to LTM

Define rehearsal (Atkinson and Shiffrin 1968) 

• Maintenance rehearsal: (passive) repetition of information to maintain it in STM  

• Elaborative rehearsal: (active) add meaning to information while rehearsing (repeating) to transfer it to LTM

Define the serial position effect (STM capacity) 

• Glazner & Cunitz

• Participants recalled more earlier numbers (primary effect) and later numbers (regency effect) compared to middle numbers 

• Effect disappeared if participants waited for 30 seconds to recall numbers 

Define long term memory (Atkinson and Shiffrin 1968) 

• Relatively permanent storage of an unlimited amount of information for a long period of time

• Unlimited capacity and duration

• Encoding primarily semantic (partially auditory and visual)

Define procedural memory - LTM (Atkinson and Shiffrin 1968) 

• Requires no conscious effort to recall (implicit)

• Responsible for motor skills (riding a bike) 

• Less susceptible to forgetting

Define declarative memory - LTM (Atkinson and Shiffrin 1968) 

• Requires conscious effort to recall (explicit)

• Semantic: general factual knowledge and meanings

• Episodic: memory of personal experiences associated with particular time and place  

Identify the strengths of the multi store model of memory (Atkinson and Shiffrin 1968)

• Basis for further research on memory and memory models (WMM) 

• Evidence (serial position effect) to support distinction between STM and LTM in terms of encoding, duration and capacity 

Identify the limitations of the multi store model of memory (Atkinson and Shiffrin 1968)

• Oversimplified: evidence of multiple short and long-term memory stores

• Procedural and Declarative LTM are not included in original 1968 model

• Only maintenance (not elaborative) rehearsal included in original 1968 model

Define the Working Memory Model 

• Baddeley and Hitch (1974)

• System that provides temporary storage and manipulation of information necessary for complex cognitive tasks (learning) 

Define the predictions of the WMM (Baddeley and Hitch 1974)

• If two tasks make use of the same component of WM they cannot be performed successfully together

• If two tasks make use of different components of WM they can be performed successfully together

Define the central executive (Baddeley and Hitch 1974)

• Controls attention by enabling the working memory system to selectively attend to some stimuli and ignore others

• Coordinates the slave systems

Define the phonological loop (Baddeley and Hitch 1974)

• Verbal aspect of working memory 

• Phonological store (inner ear): speech perception (stores verbal information for 1-2 seconds)

• Articulatory control process (inner voice) speech production (rehearses information from phonological store)

Define the visuospatial sketchpad (Baddeley and Hitch 1974)

• Visual part of working memory

• Manipulates information (from SM and LTM) about appearance (visual) and location in space (spatial)

Define the episodic buffer (Baddeley and Hitch 1974)

• Temporary multimodal store

• Combines information from the phonological loop and visuospatial sketchpad to create a unified memory to be deposited into LTM 

• Buffer: limited capacity interface between slave systems

Identify the strengths and limitations of the working memory model (Baddeley and Hitch 1974)

• Short term memory is an active process

• Focus on short term memory (no LTM or SM) 

• Limited evidence for functioning of the central executive