Psychology: Memory - The multi-store model

Atkinson and Shiffrin (1968) MSM layout

Sensory register (SR)

All stimulus passes through the SR There are five stores, one for each sense.

• Coding = depends on the sense e.g. visual in iconic, acoustic in echoic

• Duration = very brief, less than 0.5s

• Capacity = very high

If attention was payed, the info passes into the STM

Short term memory (STM)

• Coding = acoustic

• Duration ≈ 18s unless rehearsed

• Capacity = 7 ± 2 before some forgetting occurs

Through maintenance rehearsal, info passes onto LTM

Long term memory (LTM)

• Coding = mostly semantic

• Duration = potentially up to a lifetime

• Capacity = potentially unlimited

When we want to recall info, it must be retrieved from LTM to STM

Strength of MSM - Research support showing difference of LTM and STM

• Baddeley (1966) - we tend to mix up words that are acoustic when using STM

• We mix words for semantics when using LTM

• Supports view that the two memory stores are separate and independent

• However studies tend not to use everyday info, they use meaningless stimuli

• MSM may not be valid of how memory works in everyday life

Limitation of MSM - Evidence suggesting there is more than one STM store

• (Shalice and Warrington) KF had amnesia, STM recall was poor when he heard digits but was better when he read them

• Other studies confirm there may also be a seperate STM store for non-verbal sounds

• MSM is wrong to claim there is only one STM store processing info

Limitation of MSM - Prolonged rehersal not necessary for STM-LTM transfer

• Craik and Watkins argued there are 2 types of rehersal: maintenance and elaborative

• Elaborative is needed for long-term storage. Occurs when you link information to existing knowledge or think ahout its meaning

• Suggests MSM doesn't fully explain how long-term storage is achieved