Models Of Memory

Models Of Memory

1. Memory - A set of mental processes involved in registering, storing and retrieving information

2. Multi-store Model

   • Sensory info is temp stored, most decay in milseconds, if paid attention to, info passed into LTM
     • Info in STM is maintained through rehearsal. without rehearsal, will decay 15-30 secs, if enough rehearsal, info passed onto LTM
       • Rehearsal represents control process that is responsible for STM to LTM transfer, Also acts as buffer between STM & LTM
         • LTM associated with stable storage & retrieval of info when required. forgetting occurs through decay/interference
   • Strengths
     • A lot of evidence to back it and to suggest their is a separate STM&LTM store
     • Important contribution to memory research, helps us explain brain damage cases (clive wearing), provides method for improving memory (rehearsal)
   • Weaknesses
     • Evidence from lab experiment, Unfamliar stimuli, doesn't represent memory in real life, p's act unnaturally
     • suggest only on short term store, WMM argues there are sub componants
     • Over emphasis on rehearsal (flashbulb)
     • Simplistic and Inflexible, cant explain multitasking
     • Passive and Mechanistic, being engaged and interested makes you create LTM without rehearsal

3. STM

   • Capacity :7+/-2 Duartion :15-30Secs Encoding :Acoustic

4. LTM

   • Capacity :Unlimited Duration :47 years Encoding :Semantic

5. Duration of STM Study

   • Peterson&Peterson
     • -P's presented with Trigrams (3 consonants) -P's asked to count backwards in 3's (distraction task) -After intervals of 3,6,9,12,15&18 asked to stop counting and repeat trigrams
       • recall 80% after 3 secs, after recall got worse as intervals increased
         • After 18, recall below 10%
       • Distraction makes sure info not transferred into LTM and recall is from STM

6. Duration of LTM study

   • Bahrick
     • Tested memory of 392 graduates of American high school students
       • Carried out two test; -Recall, shown picture and has to say their name -Recognition, match names to picture
         • • Duration in LTM= At least 47 Years

7. Encoding in STM

   • CONRAD Showed p's list of 6 consonants, each for less then 1 sec. p's wrote down what they saw.
     • found their mistakes were ASOUSTIC confusions (V instead of B, J instead of K)

8. Encoding in LTM

   • BADDDELY found the meaning of words get confsed
     • Suggesting LTM is SEMANTIC

9. Working Memory Model

   • • Episodic Buffer, links off info from elements of wm adding relations to time&order. Enables memories to prepare for episodic LTM storage
   • Strengths
     • Evidence to back up separate slave systems
       • Baddeley and Hitch
         • P's asked to carry out 2 tasks at once: task 1 and either 2a or 2b
           • Task 1 - follow list if short statements and decide if it is true or false (Central Executive)
             • Task 2 - Repeated The over and over again OR Say random digits out loud
               • P's found it hard to complete when combing 1 and 2b showing we cannot use the same componants of WMM
     • Can explain brain damage cases - KF in a motorcycle accident had LTM but problem with STM. woulf forget sounds an words but ok with visual
     • Better than MSM as more complex and explains multitasking
   • Weaknesses
     • Issues with central executive as not well studied and could have more componants than stated
       • Elsinger&Damasio - EVR had brain damage had good reasoning and high IQ however decision making was bad.
         • Executive has been damaged, but phonological loop and visuo-spatial sketchpad is fine

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