MODELS OF MEMORY: MSM

MODELS OF MEMORY: MSM

1. STRUCTURE: MSM describes memory in the three stores of SENSORY MEMORY, STM and LTM and the PROCESS involved. Memory is seen in terms of information flowing through a system. Information in LTM can also be retrieved to STM. MSM suggest that all information must pass through the stores in order and differentiates between the stores in terms of capacity, duration and encoding.

2. MULTI-STORE MODEL OF MEMORY (Also known as 'MODAL MODEL'): Is a way of presenting psychological process for memory. The model provides the framework for how these proccesses work within further research can take place. It was developed by ATKINSON AND SHIFFRIN (1968 AND 1971). It has an emphasis on the two memory stores of STM and LTM.

3. EVIDENCE: Supports claims for duration, capacity and encoding. The SERIAL POSITION EFFECT (observed by Ebbinghaus) is further evidence (see MURDOCK). GLANZER AND CUNITZ (1966) also support the Serial Position Effect. The cases of HM AND CLIVE WEARING both support the idea of STM and LTM being different systems/stores.

   • MURDOCK (1962): The aim was to compare recall for words in different positions in a list. At a rate of 1 word per second, participants were presented with a list of words and then asked to remember as many words as possible in any order. Results showed that words at the beginning and end of the list were more likely to be recalled (PRIMACY AND RECENCY EFFECT). To conclude rehearsals of the words near the beginning has moved them into LTM, which they have been recalled, while those near the end are still in STM, and are recalled from there. This supports the idea that there are two distinct memory stores.
   • MILNER (1966) CASE STUDY: HM was a man who had major epileptic fits, he had a drastic brain surgery to cure his epilepsy which involved removing the hippocampus. His epilepsy was cured but he suffered from severe ANTEROGRADE AMNESIA (difficulty forming new memories). He could remember everything before the surgery but not afterwards.
   • BLAKEMORE (1988) CASE STUDY: CLIVE WEARING was a musician. A brain infection destroyed his HIPPOCAMPUS, and other parts of his brain. His STM was relatively unaffected but his LTM, including events from before the damage, was impaired like in the case of HM. He was also incapable of transferring STM into LTM.

4. CRITICISMS: MSM sees both LTM and STM as UNITARY stores while there is evidence that each is FRACTIONED (made up of several components). MSM doesn't cover this. Further issues include the fact that the model suggests information needs to pass through STM but in the case of KF, his STM was damaged but could create LTM and that MSM is only concerned with the AMOUNT not the NATURE of the information. These issues are brought together, coined as FLASH BULB memory by BROWN AND KULICK (1977).

   • HM: Although he could remember things from before his operation, his SEMANTIC memory (current events) and his EPISODIC memory (like the fact his father was dead) was damaged. This suggests that his DECLARATIVE memory was damaged. However, he could read and write but also could learn new motor skills. This mean't his procedural memory was functional but he had to me reminded to carry out a task, his episodic memory was still damaged.
   • CLIVE WEARING: Like HM SEMANTIC and EPISODIC memory was damaged and had confusion between the two (he thought the Queen and D of E were singers he knew at church when shown pictures). However he could still read/conduct music and play the organ and could learn new motor tasks. His procedural memory was still functional.
   • TULVING (1972): Suggested that LTM is made up of SEMANTIC and EPISODIC memory. He reported that scans show different parts of the brain as being active when they were asked to think about personal events or information about a particular topic.
     • COHEN AND SQUIRE (1980): Suggested that semantic and episodic memory systems were closely related. For example, knowledge about France (semantic) could be related to holiday experience there (episodic). They grouped these two kinds together as DECLARATIVE MEMORY. According to this, LTM can be divided into declarative ('knowing that') and PROCEDURAL MEMORY ('knowing how').
   • BUTTERWORTH (IN RADFORD, 1992): Dr S fell while skiing. Lost 25 years of memory (episodic memory had been affected) but proceeded to ski to the bottom of the mountain (procedural memory was functional). Diagnosed with transient global amnesia. Later he fully recovered.

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