This document summarises the follow sub-topics:
1. Multi-store Model
2. Working Memory Model
3. Types of Long-Term Memory
4. Explanations of Forgetting - Interference Theory (IT)
5. Explanations of Forgetting - Retrieval Failure
6. Eyewitness Testimony - Misleading Information and EWT
7....
MEMORY
Multi-store Model (1)
Atkinson and Shiffrin – 3 separate unitary stores: information flows in a FIXED LINEAR ORDER
Encoded acoustically Encoded semantically
Each sense encoded (sounds) (meaning)
differently
Maintenance
Rehearsal
(repetition of
information)
Long term
Elaborative
Incoming Sensory Register Short Term rehearsal memory
Capacity: very large Memory Capacity: unlimited
sensory Paying
Duration: 0.5 secs Capacity: 5-9 items Duration: minutes
information attention to to lifetime
Duration: 30 secs Retrieval
information
Senses capture Information not
information encoded – Information lost by Lack of retrieval cues &
fades away displacement interferences –
information fades away
STRENGTHS LIMITATIONS
CLINICAL STUDIES: CLINICAL STUDIES:
• Chronic alcoholics sometimes develop Korsakoff’s • Clive Wearing contracted a viral infection causing
syndrome which damages parts of the brain extensive brain damage
• It has little effect on STM but severely impairs LTM • Lost his long-term DECLARATIVE memory (factual-
• For example: it is possible to carry out a ‘knowing that’) – no memory of his wedding
conversation whilst suffering from Korsakoff’s • Still can use long-term PROCEDURAL memory (skill –
syndrome however, the transfer of information to ‘knowing how’) – can still play piano
LTM is impaired therefore, the person suffering from
the syndrome will not remember having the
conversation
EXPERIMENTAL SUPPORT: Overemphasis on rehearsal:
Glanzer & Cunitz (primacy and recency effect) • Multi-store model suggests rehearsal is the only
• Participants asked to recall list of words method of transferring information from STM to
• More likely to remember first few (primacy effect) LTM
and the last few words (recency effect) • Model lacks face validity – we do not always need to
• More likely to forget those in the middle of the list rehearse information to remember it
• The first few words have been transferred to LTM • Some things are easier to recall because they are
through rehearsal funny, distinctive or significant and do not require
• Words at the end are still in STM rehearsal
, Working Memory Model (2)
Baddeley & Hitch – STM too simplistic in MSM & is more complex
(featuring a number of different components which play an active part in memory)
CENTRAL EXECUTIVE
• Involved in higher mental processes
(decision making)
• Pays attention to incoming info &
PHONOLOGICAL LOOP directs it to slave systems VISUO-SPATIAL
• Each sense coded differently SKETCHPAD
• Codes information acoustically
• Modality free
(such as noises and words)
• Little to no storage capacity • ‘inner eye’
• Limited capacity: 2 seconds • Processes visual & spatial info
(movement/ still images)
PRIMARY • Codes info visually
ACOUSTIC STORE • Limited capacity: 3-4 items
• ‘inner ear’
• Linked to speech perception EPISODIC BUFFER
VISUO-CACHE
• Stores acoustically coded info
• Limited capacity: approx. 1-2 seconds • Codes info across the different
slave systems • Stores visual info
• Integrates & holds both visual &
ARTICULATORY acoustic info
PROCESS • Limited capacity: 4 pieces of info INNER SCRIBE
• ‘inner voice’
• Linked to speech production • Processes spatial &
• Sub-vocal rehearsal (repeating movement info/ helps
code) make sense of it
• Limited capacity: 2 seconds
STRENGTHS LIMITATIONS
RESEARCH SUPPORT: (dual task studies) Central Executive component is
• Baddeley and Hitch – laboratory investigations: we can OVERSIMPLIFIED:
easily do two DIFFERENT tasks that take up space in • Not enough detail/ research about how the
DIFFERENT stores (i.e., visual and verbal) CE controls the entire Working Memory
• Complete a verbal task in the Articulatory Loop and a system or how it works modality free
separate task in the Central Executive – recall is not affected • The way components in the Working
• Same participants asked to complete two SIMILAR tasks (i.e., Memory model interact when performing
both in the Articulatory Loop) – recall on the first task is tasks is not clear (how this actually happens
affected in real life memory)
• Visual task (using VSSP) + Verbal Task (PL) = NO impaired
ability
• Verbal Task + Verbal Task = IMPAIRED ability
PHYSIOLOGICAL EVIDENCE from PET scans:
• Cohen: different areas of the brain are activated when
completing visual and verbal tasks:
• Broca’s area: speech production (verbal task)
• Occipital lobe: visual processing (visual task)
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