Multi-Store Model

Atkinson and Shriffrin: proposed the structural model

proposed memory consisted of three stores: sensory registers, short-term memory and long term memory.

The model suggests information flows through the stages in a linear way.

Sensory registers = information you get from the external environment

Then this information is paid attention to.

This information is then converted to STM.

maintenance rehearsal keeps this information in the STM but eventually:

If the information is rehearsed —> goes from STM to LTM

NO maintance rehearsal = information is forgotten

Each store has its own characteristics:

encoding: the way information is changed so it can be stored

capacity: concerns how much information is stored

duration: refers to the period of time information can last

Sensory Registers:

coding = coded according to the specific sense it is received

capacity = potentially unlimited capacity

duration = very short

STM:

coding = primarily acoustic - Baddley’s research

capacity = limited capacity - Millers research of 7 ±/- 2, Jacob’s Research of chunking

Duration = short without rehearsal - Peterson and Peterson Research around 18 to 30 seconds

LTM:

coding = primarily semantically - Baddley’s study

Capacity = considered to be unlimited

duration = potentially forever last - Bahrick’s study of classmate names

AO3:

Influential foundation model: MSM was the first cognitive explanation of memory, this shifts the focus from biological explanations. Provides the coherent framework and stimulated future research and interest. MSM helped to lay groundwork for subsequent future complex models.