Multistore memory model vs Working memory model

Multistore model of memory

Atkinson and Shiffrin (68) - suggested that memory is a ‘process’. Where information passes through a number of single and seperate stores.

Very little of the information that enters the memory system will make it to the short term memory - only the info we pay attention to. ATTENTION = KEY FACTOR

AO3 - this was the first version of a theoretical memory model ever put forward, therefore was overly simplistic.

+ Supported by Baddely - found we have acoustic confusion for STM and semantic confusion for LTM. Shows that STM and LTM are different and therefore must be separate stores. This increases VALIDITY of model.

- Shalice and Warrington contradictory evidence - patient KF had amnesia, his STM for digits was poor when they were read to him, but better when he read them himself. Suggests there are more than one type of STM = decreased validity of theoretical model.

- Craik and Watkins type of rehearsal - MMM suggests amount of rehearsal is what matters. C&W ind this to be incorrect. There are acctually two type of rehearsal:

  • Maintenance rehearsal - MMM

  • Elaborative rehearsal - needed for info to go into LTM, when you link new info to existing info

Their findings are a serious limitation as it’s another findings that the model doesn’t explain.

- Lack of ecological validity - lab tests use information that isn’t applicable of memory in real life e.g. word lists and digits which have no emotional value to ppts. Therefore not generalizable as conditions are representative.

Working model of Memory

Baddely and Hitch (74) - an improvement on the MMM. Only focused on the short term, trying put right criticisms the MMM faced.

Suggest that the STM is an active system where information is organized by SLAVE SYSTEMS, and then sent to the LTM. However, this model only describes processes, doesn’t explain them. It also doesn’t include taste and smell - limited.

First component is the CENTRAL EXECUTIVE. It is considered the most important, as it monitors incoming data and allocates slave systems to tasks. Controls attention and decision making

Slave systems:

Phonological loop - processes written and spoken information and keeps it in the order in which it arrived. Composed of two parts:

  • Phonological store - stores the words you hear

  • Articulatory control loop - converts written words into spoken form

Visuo-spatial sketch pad - processes visual and spatial information. Logi divided it further into:

  • Visual cache - passive store of visual information

Inner scribe - stores the arrangements of objects in a visual field

Episodic buffer - added by Baddely. Intergrates visual, spatial and verbal information in a maintained time sequence and temporarily stores it. Links STM to LTM so information in LTM can be retrieved.

AO3:

+ Shallice and Warrington (KF - amnesiac): couldn’t retain auditory information, but could retain and recall visual information - supports the idea of seperate visual and acoustic stores as only phonological loop would’ve been damaged. BUT can’t rely on case studies because they’re all unique.

+ Baddely et al: found ppts had trouble doing two visual tasks simultaneously (tracking light and describing letter F), then doing both a visual and verbal task as they weren’t competing for the same slave system. This is support for different STM stores existing.

- Hampson and Morris: central executive is unsatisfactory, lacks detail and doesn’t explain anything. Scientists have said CE may include multiple components and more research is needed to understand it

- Taste: the model completely excludes the taste sensation, showing that it is not entirely representative of the role the STM has to take.