memory

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The Multi-store model A01

  • Proposed by Atkinson and Shiffrin
  • They proposed that memory consisted of three stores: sensory register, short-term memory  and long-term memory
  • information passes from store to store
  • you get informations from senses (eyes and ears) and when attention is paid to it, it is turned into STM
  • any not important information is decayed
  • when rehearsed information is turned into LTM
  • Encoding - information changed so it can be stored. visual, acoustic and semantic.
  • capacity - how much can be stored
  • duration - period of time it lasts for
  • sensory: Duration: ¼ to ½ second, Capacity: all sensory, Encoding: sense specific 
  • STM: duration: 18 seconds, capacity: 7+-2, encoding: acoustic.
  • LTM: duration and capacity: unlimited, encoding: can be all, mainly semantic
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The Multi-store model A03

Lacking Validity - limitation, Jacobs`s study was conducted a long time ago, early research often lacked adequate control - e.g, some participants may have been distracted while they were being tested so they didn`t perform as well as they might. This could mean that some results may have been the result of confounding variables. Results of the study have been confirmed in other research, supporting its validity. 

Not so many chunks - one limitation of Miller`s research is that he may have overestimated the capacity of the STM. Cowan 2001 reviewed other research and concluded the capacity of the STM was only about 4 chunks. this suggests that the lower end of Miller`s estimate was accurate rather than seven items.

Duration of LTM - Bahrick et al, studied 392 participants between 17 and 74.High school yearbooks obtained and recall tested in two ways; photo recognition test - identify photographs were from their yearbook / face recognition, and free recall test: recalled the names of everyone in graduating class. Participants tested within 15 years of graduation  90% accurate in photo recognition, after 48 years declined to 70%. Free recall after 15 years was about 60% accurate - dropping to 30% after 48 years.

 

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Types of LTM A01

Episodic - ability to recall events, been likened to a diary of events. These memories are 'time - stamped' and therefore we can remember when they happened. You have to make a conscious effort to recall these memories. Research evidence is Tulving, who suggests that episodic and semantic LTMs involve different areas of the brain and are therefore different types of LTM.

Semantic LTM - contains knowledge of the world, including the facts we have made sense of, e.g. the meaning of words. We don't necessarily remember when we learned the information, however these stored facts are continously being added to. Research evidence is Kroenig who found that Alzheimer sufferers were not as good as non-sufferers at identifying imaginary animals when using rule-based training. This suggests that semantic memory involves different processes and brain areas.

Procedural LTM - This store contains details about our actions, skills and the way we do things. Not a great deal of effort or conscious effort is needed to recall these e.g. how to drive a car. Research evidence is Finke et al who used the case study of PM, a musician who suffered damage to areas of the brain. Episodic and semantic LTM were affected, but they still had the ability to read and play music.

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