The Multi-Store Model
AO1
The multistore model of memory was proposed by Atkinson and
Shiffrin and is a structural model. They proposed that memory
consisted of three stores: sensory register, short-term memory (STM)
and long-term memory (LTM). Information passes from store to store
in a linear way. Both STM and LTM are unitary stores.
Sensory memory is the information you get from your sense, your
eyes and ears. When attention is paid to something in the environment
it is then converted to short-term memory.
If any information is not important then it decays or disappears. Once
in the short term memory informed can be rehearsed and some
information is rehearsed and then passed into long term memory.
Each store has its own characteristics in terms of encoding, capacity
and duration.
- Encoding is the way information is changed so that it can be stored in
the memory. There are three main ways in which information can be
encoded (changed): 1. visual (picture), 2. acoustic (sound), 3.
semantic (meaning).
- Capacity concerns how much information can be stored.
- Duration refers to the period of time information can last in the
memory stores.
Sensory Register
• Duration: ¼ to ½ second
• Capacity: all sensory experience (v. larger capacity)
• Encoding: sense specific (e.g. different stores for each sense)
Short Term Memory
• Duration: 0-18 seconds
• Capacity: 7 +/- 2 items
• Encoding: mainly acoustic
Long Term Memory
• Duration: Unlimited
• Capacity: Unlimited
• Encoding: Mainly semantic (but can be visual and acoustic)
AO3
- One strength of the multistore model is that gives us a good
understanding of the structure and process of the STM. This is good
because this allows researchers to expand on this model. This means
AO1
The multistore model of memory was proposed by Atkinson and
Shiffrin and is a structural model. They proposed that memory
consisted of three stores: sensory register, short-term memory (STM)
and long-term memory (LTM). Information passes from store to store
in a linear way. Both STM and LTM are unitary stores.
Sensory memory is the information you get from your sense, your
eyes and ears. When attention is paid to something in the environment
it is then converted to short-term memory.
If any information is not important then it decays or disappears. Once
in the short term memory informed can be rehearsed and some
information is rehearsed and then passed into long term memory.
Each store has its own characteristics in terms of encoding, capacity
and duration.
- Encoding is the way information is changed so that it can be stored in
the memory. There are three main ways in which information can be
encoded (changed): 1. visual (picture), 2. acoustic (sound), 3.
semantic (meaning).
- Capacity concerns how much information can be stored.
- Duration refers to the period of time information can last in the
memory stores.
Sensory Register
• Duration: ¼ to ½ second
• Capacity: all sensory experience (v. larger capacity)
• Encoding: sense specific (e.g. different stores for each sense)
Short Term Memory
• Duration: 0-18 seconds
• Capacity: 7 +/- 2 items
• Encoding: mainly acoustic
Long Term Memory
• Duration: Unlimited
• Capacity: Unlimited
• Encoding: Mainly semantic (but can be visual and acoustic)
AO3
- One strength of the multistore model is that gives us a good
understanding of the structure and process of the STM. This is good
because this allows researchers to expand on this model. This means
