Memory

Discuss the multi-store model of memory

The multi-store model was developed by Atkinson and Shiffrin. It suggests that memory is made up of three stores. The sensory register is where information from senses are taken in from the environment. Attention to these senses transfers the information from the sensory register to the short term memory. Short term memory has a duration of 18s (Peterson and Peterson) a capacity of 7±/- 2 items (Jacobs/Miller) and is coded acoustically - sound - (Baddeley). Rehearsal of the information transfers information from the STM to the long term memory.

The long term memory has infinite capacity (Linton) and duration (Bahrick) and is coded semantically - experiences - (Baddeley). Information can be retrieved from the LTM back into the STM. Information can decay from all 3 stores if rehearsal/attention does not occur.

A strength of the multi store model of memory the studies following it have high internal validity. For example, studies such as Jacobs digit span test were done in a lab environment where both the independent and dependent variable are closely controlled. This reduces the likelihood of any extraneous variables occuring which may produce inaccuracies in results. So a strength of the multi-store model is that it has high internal validity improving its reliablity.

However, on the contrary, the studies often lack mundane realism meaning that the studies often involve tasks which are not usually performed in day to day life. For example, Peterson and Peterson’s study involved the artificial task of remembering trigrams. Remembering trigrams while counting backwards is not a usual daily activity for people so using it as a measure to study memory formation is fairly unreliable. Memory formation of more common daily tasks may differ from artificial tasks. So a problem of the multi store model is that the studies into it lack mundane realism which reduces its reliability.

Another weakness of the multi store model of memory is that it is machine reductionist. The model simplifies complex human memory processes down to simple input/output transfer of information like a machine. This is a problem because by being such an oversimplification the model fails to recognise the importance of emotions and complex cognitions which may influence the way memory is stored. For example, flashbulb memories like 911 don’t follow the same rehearsal-necessary trend. Flashbulb memories are often much more vivid due to the implication of complex human emotions which make the memory much more long lasting despite the lack of rehearsal. So a weakness of multi store model of memory is that it is an oversimplification and therefore fails to explain emotion based memory.

Discuss types of long term memory

The study into types of long term memory was researched by Tulving. Tulving identified 3 types of long term memory: procedural, episodic and semantic. Episodic long term memory is the ability to recall events in our lives such as the first day of school. He suggested episodic memory was time stamped and was recalled by remembering the details of the event, the context of the event and the emotion that was felt during the event.

The second type of long term memory is procedural memory. This is the memory which is responsible for the memory of motor skills such as reading, writing, playing the piano etc. These memories are acquired through practise and repetition. If these skills are not used for a while muscle memory will make it easier to remember them if they are reused later in life. The final type of long term memory is semantic long term memory. This is the memory is knowledge of the world responsible for remembering facts, figures, dates etc. For example, knowing that Paris is the capital of France is the semantic memory at work. These memories are not time-stamped and are constantly being added to.

One strength of the theory of the types of long term memory is support from the case study of Clive Wearing. Clive Wearing suffered from herpes encephalitis which caused him brain damage. Clive Wearing could remember how to play the piano perfectly but could not remember his age or where he was. This supports the theory because it suggests that different memory stores is likely - his procedural memory was not damaged but his semantic memory had been damaged. So this is a strength for the types of long term memory.

Another strength of the types of long term memory theory is evidence from brain scans. A study by Tulving had participants do a range of tasks while in a PET scanner. Episodic tasks showed brain activity in the hippocampus and parts of the temporal lobe whilst procedural tasks were seen in the cerebellum. This supports separate types of long term memory as different areas of the brain were activated for different long term memory tasks. So this is a strength of the types of long term memory.

A03 for WMM

🙂 KF - motorbiking (gone wrong) (gone painful) (gone memory) - phonological loop impaired - stuggle recalling verbal and auditory information but visuo-spatial sketchpad aight - could still recall visual info

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