Working Memory Model

Working Memory Model

1. Sensory register

   • Walsh & Thompson 1978- Found that the iconic sensory store has an average duration of 500 milliseconds, which decreases as individuals get older. This suggests the duration of sensory memories is limited and dependent on age.

2. Short-Term memory

   • Jacobs 1887- tested STM capacity with the serial digit span method where participants are present with increasingly long lists of numbers or letters and have to recall in the right order. Jacobs found for numbers 9.3 and 7.3 for letters.

3. Long-term memory

   • Wagenaar 1986- created a diary of 2400 events over 6 years and tested himself on recall of event rather than dates, finding he too had excellent recall, again suggesting the capacity of LTM is extremely large.

4. Description. The multi-store model explains memory according to its structure (3 stores) and processes (attention & rehearsal). According to the model, there are 3 components to memory. Info enters sensory memory first, from anyone of the senses. Here, info is encoded e.g. sight, sound etc. It is only stored for a few seconds, because this store is overwhelmed by info from environment. Most info is lost by decay. Only what we pay attention to enters STM. This has a limited capacity. Info is normal encoded acoustilay