The multi-store model (MSM)

Atkinson and Shiffrin (1968)

In pairsA describe diagram on p to BB draw diagram without seeing it.

Multi-Store Model of Memory

Sensory Memory

Short Term Memory

Long Term Memory

Stimuli

attention

Retrieval

Elaborative rehearsal

Maintenance Rehearsal

The multi-store modelAn explanation of how memory processes

work based on the idea that there are three separate stores (SM, STM, LTM)

Sensory memory (SM)SM is equivalent to any one of the senses e.g.

the eye or ear. Information first arrives at the senses; if

attention is focused on it, it is transferred to STM.

Attention Rehearsal

Sensory Short-term Long-term

store store store

Short-term memory (STM)Has unique characteristics in terms of

duration, capacity and encoding.Information is maintained in STM through

rehearsal, otherwise it will decay. It also may be displaced by new information.

Short-term memory (STM)Increasing rehearsal leads to transfer from

STM to LTM, the more rehearsal the better it is remembered.

Attention Rehearsal

Sensory Short-term Long-term

store store store

Long-term memoryPotentially unlimited capacity and duration,

semantic encoding.Lasting memory created by rehearsal.

Attention Rehearsal

Sensory Short-term Long-term

store store store

Evaluation: what are the Strengths1. Research support, e.g. studies of duration,

capacity and encoding.2. Matches commonsense perception of

memory.

Evaluation: Limitations1. An oversimplification, e.g. doesn’t

distinguish between different STM stores (see working memory) and different LTM stores (episodic and procedural memory).

2. Rehearsal doesn’t explain all LTM memories.

positron emission tomography (PET)

Auditory pets

Research related to the MSMBeardsley (1997), Squire et al. (1992)Findings: STM associated with activity in

prefrontal cortex active, LTM associated with LTM.

Conclusions: Shows that stores are distinct.

HM

HM Suffered brain damage during an operation to his

brain to reduce the severe epilepsy he suffered.His personality and intellect remained intact, but he

could not form new long term memories.Not able to remember his mother’s death. CLIVE WEARING:Viral infection resulted in damage to hippocampus

and couldn’t transfer new memories form stm to ltm. Remembers events before infection but not since.

However procedural memory for skills still intact suggests that LTM is more than one store.

Complete the case study worksheetWhat conclusions can you draw?

Support for sensory storeYou will see a series of letters and numbers

for a very limited time. You will be asked to recall all items.

Ready?

4 9 b S

L f 6 5

g 7 t 3

Write answers

What does this tell us?That there is a sensory memory store.That information in the sensory memory store

doesn’t last very long.

And again this timeYou will see a series of letters and numbers

for a very limited time. You will be asked to recall the top line if you

hear a high tone, middle line if you hear a mid tone and bottom line if you hear a high tone.

Ready?

Write answers

Research related to the MSMSperling (1960)Findings: When asked (after 50

milliseconds) to report all 12 letters/digits recall was poorer (5 items recalled, about 42%) than when asked to give one row only (3 items recalled, 75%).

Conclusions: This shows that information decays rapidly in the sensory store.

Other research supportRead through the list once.Turn over and write down as many of the

words as you can remember in any order.So the same with the rest of the lists.Complete the next handout.

Research related to the MSMGlanzer and Cunitz (1966)Findings: Participants best remember words

from start of list (primacy effect) and end of list ( recency).

Conclusions: Called the serial position effect which occurs because first words best rehearsed and transferred to LTM, last words are in STM when you start recalling the list.

HWCan you illustrate the model, and research

support with minimal use of words?

Evaluating the multistore modelThere is research support.It can explain how it is organised (structure,

three stores) It can explain how it works ( processes,

attention and rehearsal).Makes predictions which can be tested.

weaknesses oversimplified..why?1. KF case study suggests that STM does

more than one thing. It can recall visual and verbal information differently.

oversimplification2. Schachter et al 2000 suggests that LTM does

more than one thing: Knowledge( semantic memory) Events( episodic memory) Skills (procedural memory) Recognition of familiar images (PRS)

Oversimplification3. Rehearsal isn’t the only way.Craik and Lockhart found deep processing is

more memorable than shallow repetition.

oversimplificationHow separate are the STM and LTM stores?Ruchkin 2003 found that both STM and LTM

are involved when chunking information in STM. This is because you need to recall meaningful groups of letters which are stores in LTM.

validityUse of word listsParticipants often psychology studentsLab experiments ( demand characteristics,

experimenter bias, well controlled)

Investigator /Experimenter biasAnything the investigator does which has an

effect on a participant's performance in a study, other than what was intended.

This includes direct (interaction) and indirect effects (design).

Demand characteristicsFeatures of an experiment that a participant,

unconsciously, responds to when searching for clues about how to behave.

A confounding variable.

Laboratory experimentIV manipulated to observe effect on DV,

controlled.(+) Can draw causal conclusion.(+) Confounding variables minimized.(+) Can be easily replicated. (-) Artificial, contrived situation.(-) Investigator and participant effects.

To doActivity 3 p 27Compare answers p 28www.learner.org/resources/series150html#

reviewUsing the multi store model of memory

outline how information is transferred from STM to LTM. (2 marks)