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STUDY GUIDE: THE THREE-STAGE MODEL OF MEMORY (ATKINSON-SHIFFRIN)
Course: Introduction to Psychology (PSY101)
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OVERVIEW
This high-yield study guide breaks down the core concepts of memory storage:
Sensory Memory, Short-Term Memory (STM), and Long-Term Memory (LTM).
Perfect for midterm review and exam preparation.
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1. SENSORY MEMORY (The Immediate Buffer)
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* Definition: The earliest stage of memory that briefly preserves a snapshot of
sensory information.
* Purpose: Holds information just long enough for the brain to select what to
process further.
* Types:
- Iconic Memory: Visual sensory memory. Lasts about 0.2 to 0.4 seconds.
- Echoic Memory: Auditory sensory memory. Lasts about 3 to 4 seconds.
* Capacity: Extremely large (takes in everything you see and hear).
* Duration: Fractions of a second to a few seconds.
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2. SHORT-TERM MEMORY / WORKING MEMORY (The Mental Desktop)
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* Definition: The active system that holds information you are consciously
thinking about right now.
* Capacity (The Magic Number): Historically 7 ± 2 items (George Miller). Modern
research suggests a more realistic capacity of 4 ± 1 "chunks."
* Duration: About 15 to 30 seconds without active rehearsal.
* Key Terminology to Know for the Exam:
- Maintenance Rehearsal: Repeating information over and over to keep it in STM
(e.g., repeating a phone number). Does NOT guarantee long-term storage.
- Chunking: Grouping individual pieces of data into larger, meaningful units
to bypass capacity limits (e.g., remembering 1-800-555-0199 instead of
18005550199).
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3. LONG-TERM MEMORY (The Permanent Archive)
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* Definition: The continuous storage of information that is kept for days,
weeks, or a lifetime.
* Capacity: Unlimited.
* Duration: Potentially permanent.
* The Dual-System Structure:
==========
STUDY GUIDE: THE THREE-STAGE MODEL OF MEMORY (ATKINSON-SHIFFRIN)
Course: Introduction to Psychology (PSY101)
======================================================================
==========
OVERVIEW
This high-yield study guide breaks down the core concepts of memory storage:
Sensory Memory, Short-Term Memory (STM), and Long-Term Memory (LTM).
Perfect for midterm review and exam preparation.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. SENSORY MEMORY (The Immediate Buffer)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Definition: The earliest stage of memory that briefly preserves a snapshot of
sensory information.
* Purpose: Holds information just long enough for the brain to select what to
process further.
* Types:
- Iconic Memory: Visual sensory memory. Lasts about 0.2 to 0.4 seconds.
- Echoic Memory: Auditory sensory memory. Lasts about 3 to 4 seconds.
* Capacity: Extremely large (takes in everything you see and hear).
* Duration: Fractions of a second to a few seconds.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. SHORT-TERM MEMORY / WORKING MEMORY (The Mental Desktop)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Definition: The active system that holds information you are consciously
thinking about right now.
* Capacity (The Magic Number): Historically 7 ± 2 items (George Miller). Modern
research suggests a more realistic capacity of 4 ± 1 "chunks."
* Duration: About 15 to 30 seconds without active rehearsal.
* Key Terminology to Know for the Exam:
- Maintenance Rehearsal: Repeating information over and over to keep it in STM
(e.g., repeating a phone number). Does NOT guarantee long-term storage.
- Chunking: Grouping individual pieces of data into larger, meaningful units
to bypass capacity limits (e.g., remembering 1-800-555-0199 instead of
18005550199).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. LONG-TERM MEMORY (The Permanent Archive)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Definition: The continuous storage of information that is kept for days,
weeks, or a lifetime.
* Capacity: Unlimited.
* Duration: Potentially permanent.
* The Dual-System Structure:
