Memory
Question: Outline and evaluate the Multi store model of memory.
AO1: • Multi-store model --> linear model that is a representation of
6 memory based on available evidence, provides us with an analogy of
the brain.
- Proposed by Atkinson and Shiffrin (1948) --> comprised of three
distinct stores; sensory register; short-term memory & long-term
memory.
- SR takes information from our senses and processes them. Duration:
less than half a second. Capacity: enormous so it can process lots
of information from the senses at once.
- Information that has been paid attention to is passed onto the STM.
Used for storing immediate events and hold information while
working on it. Duration: 18-30 seconds (Peterson & Peterson, 1959).
Capacity: 7+-2 items (Miller, 1956). Coding: acoustically coded
(Baddeley, 1966).
- Information that is rehearsed elaborative is placed into LTM.
Memory that has been sufficiently rehearsed (repetition) can remain
in the mind for a long duration of time. Capacity: potentially
unlimited. Duration: potentially up to a lifetime. (Bahrick et al,
197 5) Coding: semantically coded (Baddeley, 1966)
AO3: • Supporting evidence for unitary stores by Shallice and Warrington
10 (1970)
- Studied a patient known as K.F. who had amnesia because of an
accident, it caused a reduced STM to only one/two digits and a
recency effect of only one item but his memory of events before the
accident was normal. Supports the MSM idea that the stores are
separate as the LTM, can function, even though the STM has become
damaged. Good external validity of the model.
• Limited in its effectiveness
- Fails to consider the nature of memory as it treats all information
as the same and that the only key for encoding a LTM is repetition.
Doesn’t consider that we can’t recall information that has been
rehearsed many times, such as knowledge for a test but can recall
information that hasn’t been rehearsed at all, such as a gossip
story. Memories are remembered better if they are processed
semantically because they have a deeper meaning. Model has not been
fully explained.
• Supporting evidence from HM case study
- Had a bike crash and suffered from brain damage due to removal of
hippocampus. His personality and intellect remained intact but
could not form new LTMs. Supports the idea that STM and LTM are
separate types of memory even though his LTM was destroyed his STM
still remains. Issues with generalisability as it’s a case study ->
could be unique and cannot always apply to wider population.
• Too simplistic of a model
- Future research has found that there are different types of STM
(working memory model) and different types of LTM (semantic,
episodic, procedural). Therefore, this model is has not been fully
explained and lacks detail.
17
, Question: Outline and evaluate the long-term memory.
AO1: • Long-Term Memory --> Is a permanent memory store that comprised
6 from the MSM. It is a memory store which has potentially unlimited
capacity and its duration is up to a lifetime (Bahrick et al,
1925). Furthermore, LTM is coded semantically (Baddeley, 1966).
• Tulving (1985) realised the MSM’s view on LTM was too simplistic
and inflexible. He proposed three LTM stores: episodic, semantic &
procedural.
- Episodic memory --> ability to recall personal life events such as
memories, people, places & objects. These types of memories are
time-stamped so we remember when they happened. We need to make a
conscious effort to recall episodic memories as they are personal.
- Semantic memory --> memories of knowledge of the world, includes
facts and knowledge of what concepts and ideas mean (like a
dictionary). These types of memory are not time-stamped so we don’t
remember when we learnt them. Less personal because they are facts,
we all share so don’t make a conscious effort to recall them.
- Procedural memory --> memories on how to do things, includes
skills, instructions, and actions we have learnt. These types of
memory are not time-stamped so we can't remember when they
happened. Procedural memories are hard to explain so are more
resistant to forgetting and harder to recall them without conscious
awareness.
AO3: • Supporting evidence from case studies (HM & Clive Wearing)
10 - They had difficulty recalling events that had happened in their
past (episodic) but could learn new knowledge about the world
(semantic). HM could not recall stroking a dog but knew the meaning
of ‘dog’. Supports the view that the three stores are unitary. Good
external validity of the theory.
• Supporting evidence from brain scans by Tulving et al (1994)
- Asked participants to perform a memory task whilst their brains
were getting a PET scan. He found episodic memories were in the
right prefrontal cortex and semantic memories located in the left.
This shows the physical reality of the separate stores in the
brain, increasing the validity of the theory.
• Real-life application
- Psychologists such as Belleville et al. found episodic memories can
be improved in order people with cognitive impairments. Therefore,
by understanding the different types of LTM psychologists can
target certain kinds of memory to improve their life. This shows
the benefit in distinguishing between different types of LTM as it
can lead to the development of treatments.
• Psychologists believe there are only two types of LTM
- Cohen and Squire argued that semantic and episodic memory stores in
LTM should be one store known as declarative memory. They did agree
procedural was distinct and called it non-declarative though.
Although, it’s important to ensure the distinctions between these
memories are correct as it influences studies into memory and can
have a knock-on effect on how we use it.
18
Question: Outline and evaluate the Multi store model of memory.
AO1: • Multi-store model --> linear model that is a representation of
6 memory based on available evidence, provides us with an analogy of
the brain.
- Proposed by Atkinson and Shiffrin (1948) --> comprised of three
distinct stores; sensory register; short-term memory & long-term
memory.
- SR takes information from our senses and processes them. Duration:
less than half a second. Capacity: enormous so it can process lots
of information from the senses at once.
- Information that has been paid attention to is passed onto the STM.
Used for storing immediate events and hold information while
working on it. Duration: 18-30 seconds (Peterson & Peterson, 1959).
Capacity: 7+-2 items (Miller, 1956). Coding: acoustically coded
(Baddeley, 1966).
- Information that is rehearsed elaborative is placed into LTM.
Memory that has been sufficiently rehearsed (repetition) can remain
in the mind for a long duration of time. Capacity: potentially
unlimited. Duration: potentially up to a lifetime. (Bahrick et al,
197 5) Coding: semantically coded (Baddeley, 1966)
AO3: • Supporting evidence for unitary stores by Shallice and Warrington
10 (1970)
- Studied a patient known as K.F. who had amnesia because of an
accident, it caused a reduced STM to only one/two digits and a
recency effect of only one item but his memory of events before the
accident was normal. Supports the MSM idea that the stores are
separate as the LTM, can function, even though the STM has become
damaged. Good external validity of the model.
• Limited in its effectiveness
- Fails to consider the nature of memory as it treats all information
as the same and that the only key for encoding a LTM is repetition.
Doesn’t consider that we can’t recall information that has been
rehearsed many times, such as knowledge for a test but can recall
information that hasn’t been rehearsed at all, such as a gossip
story. Memories are remembered better if they are processed
semantically because they have a deeper meaning. Model has not been
fully explained.
• Supporting evidence from HM case study
- Had a bike crash and suffered from brain damage due to removal of
hippocampus. His personality and intellect remained intact but
could not form new LTMs. Supports the idea that STM and LTM are
separate types of memory even though his LTM was destroyed his STM
still remains. Issues with generalisability as it’s a case study ->
could be unique and cannot always apply to wider population.
• Too simplistic of a model
- Future research has found that there are different types of STM
(working memory model) and different types of LTM (semantic,
episodic, procedural). Therefore, this model is has not been fully
explained and lacks detail.
17
, Question: Outline and evaluate the long-term memory.
AO1: • Long-Term Memory --> Is a permanent memory store that comprised
6 from the MSM. It is a memory store which has potentially unlimited
capacity and its duration is up to a lifetime (Bahrick et al,
1925). Furthermore, LTM is coded semantically (Baddeley, 1966).
• Tulving (1985) realised the MSM’s view on LTM was too simplistic
and inflexible. He proposed three LTM stores: episodic, semantic &
procedural.
- Episodic memory --> ability to recall personal life events such as
memories, people, places & objects. These types of memories are
time-stamped so we remember when they happened. We need to make a
conscious effort to recall episodic memories as they are personal.
- Semantic memory --> memories of knowledge of the world, includes
facts and knowledge of what concepts and ideas mean (like a
dictionary). These types of memory are not time-stamped so we don’t
remember when we learnt them. Less personal because they are facts,
we all share so don’t make a conscious effort to recall them.
- Procedural memory --> memories on how to do things, includes
skills, instructions, and actions we have learnt. These types of
memory are not time-stamped so we can't remember when they
happened. Procedural memories are hard to explain so are more
resistant to forgetting and harder to recall them without conscious
awareness.
AO3: • Supporting evidence from case studies (HM & Clive Wearing)
10 - They had difficulty recalling events that had happened in their
past (episodic) but could learn new knowledge about the world
(semantic). HM could not recall stroking a dog but knew the meaning
of ‘dog’. Supports the view that the three stores are unitary. Good
external validity of the theory.
• Supporting evidence from brain scans by Tulving et al (1994)
- Asked participants to perform a memory task whilst their brains
were getting a PET scan. He found episodic memories were in the
right prefrontal cortex and semantic memories located in the left.
This shows the physical reality of the separate stores in the
brain, increasing the validity of the theory.
• Real-life application
- Psychologists such as Belleville et al. found episodic memories can
be improved in order people with cognitive impairments. Therefore,
by understanding the different types of LTM psychologists can
target certain kinds of memory to improve their life. This shows
the benefit in distinguishing between different types of LTM as it
can lead to the development of treatments.
• Psychologists believe there are only two types of LTM
- Cohen and Squire argued that semantic and episodic memory stores in
LTM should be one store known as declarative memory. They did agree
procedural was distinct and called it non-declarative though.
Although, it’s important to ensure the distinctions between these
memories are correct as it influences studies into memory and can
have a knock-on effect on how we use it.
18
