Memory
Evaluate two models or theories of
one cognitive process with reference
to research studies.
We will be focusing on two models of
memory.
The Multi-Store Model of Memory
Atkinson and Shiffrin 1968
The Multi-Store Model of Memory
Atkinson and Shiffrin 1968
Three step process….
1. Encoding: The processing
of information into the
memory system.
2. Storage: The retention
of encoded material over
time.
3. Retrieval: The process of
getting the information
out of memory storage.
The Multi-Store Model of Memory
Atkinson and Shiffrin 1968
Sensory Memory
• A split second
holding tank for ALL
sensory information.
• Sperling’s research
on Iconic Memory
• Echoic Memory
Short Term Memory
• The stuff we encode
from the sensory goes
to STM.
• Events are encoded
visually, acoustically or
semantically.
• Holds about 7 (plus or
minus 2) items for
about 6-15 seconds.
• We recall digits
better than letters.
Short Term Memory Activity
Ways to remember things in
STM…so they go to LTM
• Chunking: Organizing
items into familiar,
manageable units.
• Mnemonic devices
or Peg Systems
• Rehearsal
1-4-9-2-1-7-7-6-1-8-1-2-1-9-4-1
"Mary Very Easily Makes Jam Saturday Unless
No Plums."
Long Term Memory
• Unlimited
storehouse of
information.
• Explicit (declarative)
memories
• Implicit (nondeclarative)
memories
Explicit Memories
• Episodic Memories
• Semantic Memories
Implicit Memories
• Procedural Memories
• Conditioned Memories
The Multi-Store Model of Memory
Atkinson and Shiffrin 1968
Forgetting
Forgetting
Getting a new bus
number and
forgetting old bus
number.
• Retroactive
Interference: new
information blocks
out old information.
• Proactive
Interference: old
information blocks
out new information.
Calling your new girlfriend by old
girlfriends name.
Spacing Effect
• DO NOT CRAM!!!!!!!!!!!!
• Ebbinghaus’s Forgetting Curve
Take out a piece of paper and name all
the Presidents…
Encoding Information
• Primacy Effect
• Recency Effect
• Serial Positioning
Effect
Glanzer and Cunitz 1966
Aim:
• To investigate recency
effect in free recall.
Procedure:
• This was a laboratory
experiment where
participants first heard
a list of items and them
immediately had to
recall them in any order.
Glanzer and Cunitz 1966
Results:
• Participants recalled
words from the
beginning of the list and
end of the list best.
• The results showed a U
shaped curve.
Glanzer and Cunitz 1966
• If the participants were
given a filler task
(something to do) right
after the last words, the
primacy effect
disappeared but the
recency effect remained.
Why?
• Maybe the words are still
active in STM.
Glanzer and Cunitz 1966
Evaluation
• The study supports the
idea of multiple stores
(STM and LTM).
• Controlled lab
experiment.
• Ecological validity
issues?
Case study example of Multi-Store
Model
• Amnesia is caused by
damage to hippocampus
and related networks.
• MRI scans showed that
H.M. had severe damage
to hippocampus which is
critical to store info in LTM.
• H.M. could store
implicit memories but
not explicit memories.
• This shows that the
memory system
contains different
systems.
Multi-Store Model
Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths
• It was the first modern
model of memory.
• The fact that we have
multiple stores is supported
by research.
• Most of the newer models
have been based of this
one.
Weakenesses
• Very simplistic