The Multi Store Model

 

Imagine you walk into your kitchen and forget why you went there. A few minutes later - bam - it hits you. That’s your memory system in action, playing its little tricks. But how exactly does your brain decide what to forget and what to store forever?

First, let's start with some basics.

3 PROCESSES OF MEMORY:

1. Changing information so it can be stored in the brain- known as encoding.
2. Storing it in your brain.
3. Retrieving it again.

5 TYPES OF ENCODING:

1. Visual — based on how something looks
2. Acoustic —based on how something sounds
3. Semantic — based on the meaning of something
4. Tactile — based on how something feels to touch
5. Olfactory — based on how something smells

IMPORTANT DEFINITIONS:

• Retrieval — process of accessing information that has been stored in your brain and being able to use it
• Free Recall —  remembering information without any hints or order.
• Cued Recall — remembering information with the help of a prompt or hint.
• Recognition — identifying information when you see or hear it again
• Encoding — when information is changed from one form to another so that it can be stored for later recall.

MULTI STORE MODEL:

This is the multi store model. It shows us 3 different stores of memory and how we can transfer information from one store to another. This model is made by Atkinson and Shiffrin.

You need to remember this diagram as well as a few key points for each memory store.

Sensory memory:

• Capacity- unlimited
• Encoding- 5 senses
• Duration- less that 0.5 seconds

Short term memory:

• Capacity- 5-9 items
• Encoding- acoustic
• Duration- 15-30 seconds

Long term memory:

• Capacity- unlimited
• Encoding- semantic
• Duration- lifetime

EVALUATION:

1. For your strength, talk about how there is evidence for different memory stores. The model is supported by research studies that show that short term memory and long term memory are qualitatively different. Mention Baddeley's study for evidence (we will learn about this in the next blog entry) 
2. For your weakness, talk about how the model is too simple and reductionist. The model suggests that we have only one type of long term memory, however we have different types of long term memory (we will explore this later in the blog). So our memory is far more complex than the multi store model originally proposed.