Multi-store Model of Memory and Coding, Capacity and Duration

Multi-store model of memory 

• proposed by Atkinson and Shiffrin (1968)
• consists of 3 stores: sensory register, STM and LTM 
• info passes through the stores in a linear way to become a memory
• STM and LTM stores are separate but unitary 

Components of the MSM

sensory register: where info from the environment is stored, info can be auditory or visual info. 

STM: when you pay attention to the info in the sensory register or think about it, it is converted into a short term memory.  

LTM: if the info in the STM is rehearsed, it transfers into the long term memory store where it can stay there for a long time

but if the information is not important or rehearsed, it either decays or disappears

Evidence for the MSM

1.  Glanzer and Cunitz (1966):

- presented 2 groups w// the same list of words

- group 1 had to recall the words straight after they were presented

- group 2 had to wait 30 seconds before recall

- both groups had to do the Brown Peterson (BP) technique…