System of Memory

• Memory is learning that persists over time

• Information and/or experiences are encoded, stored, then retrieved

Structure

• AP Psychology references the multistore model of memory

  • This proposed that information moves through multiple storage centers

• This is based off of Atkinson and Shiffrin’s Information-Processing Model

  • Similar to sequential computer processing

• Also called the three state or three box model

  • Memory goes through three centers: sensory, short-term (STM), long-term (LTM)

• There have been some revisions over time

  • Baddeley revised STM to distinguish it from working memory

    • Meaning we are actively processing information

  • STM is like a temporary shelf, working memory is the workspace on the desk

  • Technically the same stage/box but two different functions can occur

Information-Processing Model

• Stimulus is detected and is immediately taken into our sensory register/memory

  • Iconic, or visual, memory can be recalled for less than a second

  • Echoic, or auditory, memory can be recalled for 1-3 seconds

  • Very low retention but high capacity

  • Essentially what you are actively processing

• The stimulus then enters our awareness, moving into working and short term memory

  • Short term memories can be recalled for 20-30 seconds

  • This stage can hold 7-9 items on average

  • We can do maintenance or rote rehearsal to make items last longer in this stage

    • They are not moving into long term memory, but are rather giving the item another 20-30 seconds

• The information is encoded and stored in long term memory

  • This technically has no time or number limitations

  • That does not mean that everything encoded stays or is preserved perfectly

  • When taking something out of long-term memory (remembering,) we ‘retrieve’ it, and momentarily bring it back to working memory