the multi-store model

STM (short term memory)

a temporary place for storing info received through the senses   

LTM (long term memory)

the storage of information over an extended period  

the sensory register (SR)

- a stimulus from the environment, e.g. the sound of a person walking, passes into the SR along with lots of other sights, sounds, etc. 
- this part of the memory is 5 stores, for each of the senses
- duration – very brief – less than half a second 
- capacity – very high – over a hundred million cells in one eye storing data
- coding – depends on the sense – auditory, visual, tactile, etc. 

transfer from SR to STM

occurs when attention is paid to a stimulus 

STM is limited in capacity and duration store

duration – about 18-30 seconds unless info is rehearsed 

capacity – between 5-9 items  

coding – acoustic 

maintenance

- occurs when we repeat material to ourselves
- we can keep info in STM as long as we rehearse it

duration, capacity and coding of LTM

Duration – potentially a lifetime 

Capacity – potentially unlimited  

Coding – semantic 

retrieval

the process of recalling materials stored in LTM by transferring them back to STM 

elaborative rehearsal

- occurs when you link the info to your existing knowledge, or you think about what it means
- this means that info can be transferred to LTM without prolonged rehearsal

explanation of the MSM

- Atkinson and Shiffrin (1968)
- explains the active processing of memories, separate memory stores
- SR: a stimulus from the environment enters the SR along with lots of other sights, sounds, etc.
- transfer from SR to STM: little of what goes into SR passes further into the memory system - needs attention to be paid to it
- STM: limited capacity and duration store. If the info is it put into a rehearsal loop the info will stay in the STM.
- transfer from STM to LTM: maintenance rehearsal occurs when someone repeats material to themself. info can be stored in STM as long as it is rehearsed. prolonged rehearsal causes info to be transferred from STM to LTM. If rehearsed elaboratively the info will enter the LTM. If not retrieved, then there will be retrieval failure and the memory will leave.
- LTM: a permanent memory store. to recall info stored in LTM it has to be transferred back to STM by a process called retrieval

AO3 - strength of MSM: supporting evidence

- evidence from neuroimaging (brain mapping) studies that different types of memory are stored in different parts of the brain
- Tulving scanned pps’ brains using a PET scanner while they performed various memory tasks
episodic and semantic memories – left prefrontal cortex was involved in recalling semantic memories and the right prefrontal cortex was involved in recalling episodic memories.
procedural memory – activation is associated with the cerebellum.  
- this supports the theory of multiple memory stores

COUNTER:

- it shows LTM is not a single type of memory

AO3 - strength of MSM: real life applications

- e.g. psychologists can target certain kinds of memory in order to improve people’s lives
- researchers have found that episodic memories can be improved in older people with mild cognitive impairments. 
- this highlights the benefits of distinguishing between STM and LTM/different types of LTM – it allows specific treatments to be developed which can improve people’s memory and therefore their quality of life. 
- this is becoming increasingly important as age-related memory conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease are becoming more common as a result of the aging population.