Multi Store Memory Model

MSM

• developed by Atkinson + Shiffrin

• details the processing of memory via different memory stores → sensory memory store, STM, LTM

process

1. environmental outputs received by sensory memory store, stored in a modality specific manner

2. when attention given, transfers to STM

3. STM limited in capacity (7 ± 2 items of information) and duration (15-30 seconds), when information rehearsed, transfers to LTM store

4. LTM unlimited in capacity and duration, enables memory to be retrieved when needed

5. when information in STM not rehearsed, it decays

support for model

• serial position effect

serial position effect

tendency to recall words at the start + end of a list better

• primacy effect - tendency to recall words at the start of a list better due to ongoing rehearsal in STM which transfer information to LTM

• recency effect - tendency to recall words at the end of a list better than in the middle, due to information just having entered STM

evaluation

+ early model → prompted research
+ influential
- oversimplified
- does not consider distortion of memory
- LTM + STM as unitary stores