multi store model of memory

MSM

proposed by atkinson and shiffrin , the model suggests memory of three distinct stores ( sensory register / short term memory / long term memory )

rehearsal

the process of repeating information to transfer from STM to LTM

recency effect

tendency to recall the last items of the list ( due to short term memory presence )

primacy effect

tendency to recall the first items on the list - attributed to LTM encoding

serial position effect

the pattern of better recall for items at the beginning and end of the list

glanzer and cunitz 1966 aim

to investiagte the serial position effect with and without interference from a filler activity

glanzer and cunitz 1966 sample

46 army enlisted men

glanzer and cunitz 1966 procedure

The study used a repeated measures design. Participants were given 3 five-word practice lists to learn the procedure.
Then they were shown fifteen 15-word lists (common one-syllable words), one word at a time, with a 2-second interval.
After each list, either a “#” (signal for immediate recall) or a number (signal to start counting) appeared.

• Immediate recall: participants wrote down words right after the list.

• Delayed recall: participants counted for either 10 or 30 seconds before recall.

glanzer and cunitz 1966 results

immediate recall showed bothprimacy and recency effect / 10 seond delay reduced the recency effect / 30 second delay eliminated recency effect completely

glanzer and cunitz 1966 conclusion

the study supports the idea off separate stores for STM and LTM primacy , early items stored in LTM and recent items in STM recency

glanzer and cunitz 1966 strenghts

high internal validity / use of repeated measures design reduce the partacipant variability

glanzer and cunitz 1966 limitations

low ecological validity / low genearalizability

HM (Milner, 1966) aim

To investigate the role of the hippocampus in memory formation

HM milner 1966 sample

HM

HM milner 1966 procedure

HM underwent surgery to remove parts of his medial temporal lobes, including the hippocampus, to control seizures.
After surgery, Milner conducted interviews, IQ tests, direct behavioral observation, and cognitive testing (e.g., mirror-drawing).
Longitudinal case study with triangulation over many years.

HM milner 1966 results

• HM had intact short-term memory, but was unable to form new long-term memories.
  He could learn motor skills (e.g., mirror-drawing) but had no conscious recollection of learning them.

HM milner 1966 conclusion

• HM’s case demonstrates that the hippocampus plays a crucial role in converting STM to LTM.
  It supports the separation of memory stores in the MSM.

HM study strnghts

high ecological validity / longitudinal and triangulation method gives in depth and valuable data

HM study limitations

low generalizability / ethical concern ( long term observation of a cognitively impaired individual )