Working Memory

Atkinson & Shiffrin, 1968

3 types of memory stores

1. Sensory - holds info briefly

2. STS - limited capacity

3. LTS - unlimited capacity for a long period of time

info - sensory - STS - LTS - rehearsal to keep in memory

Sensory Store

Sperling, 1960

Visual array 3 rows of 4 letters for 50 mins. 

Pts could only report 4-5 letters but claimed to of seen more

Assumed that visal info had faded before it could be reported

Proved that info in iconic memory decays 0.5 secs

STS

Miller, 1956 7 +/- 2

Chunking Cowan 2000 only able to chunk 4 chunks

Recency effect - Glanzer & Cunitz 1996 - count backwards for 10 secs to get rid

Eval

Over Simplified

STS & LTS not just single stores - more complex than that

rehearsal not always used in every day life

too much emphasis on structure and not on processes