IB Psychology HL CAB (Cognitive Analysis of Behavior) notes

Define memory

Réponse: Memory is a process of encoding, retrieval and storage of information. There are three models of memory; hypothetical constructs that try to explain memory and are supported by research.


Explain the Multistore Model of Memory (Atkinson and Shiffrin, 1968)


Réponse: The multi-store model of memory (also known as the modal model) was proposed by Richard Atkinson and Richard Shiffrin (1968) and is a structural model. They proposed that memory consisted of three stores: a sensory register, short-term memory (STM) and long-term memory (LTM).

What is short-term memory?

Réponse: ○ A limited capacity memory system that holds information for brief periods of time ○ Temporary storage depot for incoming information after it receives and encodes information from the sensory store.

What is sensory memory?

Réponse: ○ A storage system that holds information in a relatively unprocessed form for fractions of a second after the physical stimulus is no longer available ○ Stores sensory characteristics of a stimulus ○ Plays a vital role in filtering out useless information, enabling us to focus our attention on important details.

What is long-term memory?

Réponse: ○ A storage system that holds a vast quantity of information, which can be stored for long periods of time. ○ Information kept here is diverse and wide-ranging, including all our personal memories, general knowledge and beliefs about the world, plans for the future, and where our knowledge about skills and expertise is deposited.

What is the working memory model?

Réponse: Working memory model consists of four components each having a different function.
 ● The visuospatial sketchpad (“the inner eye”): its function is to hold visual and spatial information. ● The phonological loop: its function is to hold auditory information. It is further subdivided into two parts. ● “The inner ear”: this holds sound in a passive manner. ● ˚ Articulatory rehearsal component (“the inner voice”) ○ Converts visual stimuli into sound ○ Rehearsal of information in inner ear ● The central executive is responsible for the allocation of resources between the visuospatial sketchpad and the phonological loop. ● The episodic buffer (added in a later version of the model) integrates information from the visuospatial sketchpad and the phonological loop and links it to LTM.