The multistore model of memory

what is the MSM

describes how info flows through the memory system. memory is made of three stores linked by processing

sensory register + how many stores

takes in sensory stimulus from the environment. has five stores - one for each sense

duration, capacity and coding of SR

d = less than half a second

c = high - over one hundred million cells in each eye that all store data

co = depends on the sense - visual, auditory, etc

the transfer from SR to STM

little will transer if memory is not paid attention to

STM, capacity, duration, coding

d = 18-30s unless info rehearsed

c = 5-9 items

co = acoustic

the transfer from STM to LTM

maintenance rehearsal. we can keep info in STMif we rehearse it - eventually it will pass into LTM

LTM, coding, capacity, duration

d = up to a lifetime

c = potentially unlimited

co = semantic

strength of MSM

hint: research shows LTM and STM are different

Baddeley’s study. clearly shows STM is acoustic and LTM is semantic. supports the MSM’s view that the two memory stores are seperate and independant

limitation of MSM [2]

hint: evidence suggests there’s more than one type of LTM

only explains one type of rehearsal

• patient with amnesia, kf, studied. his stm for digits was poor when read TO him, but great when he read thm. the study suggests that there must be more than one stm - one for visual info and one for auditory

  • was argued that there were two types of rehearsal - maintenance and elaborative. elaborative is needed for lt storage - it occurs when you link info to aready exisiting knowledge. serious limitation as research cannot be explained by the model