The multi-store model of memory proposes that memory consists of three distinct stores: sensory memory, short-term memory, and long-term memory. Information flows from sensory memory to short-term memory, and information rehearsed in short-term memory is passed onto long-term memory. Murdock's free recall experiment provided support for separate short-term and long-term memory stores by showing that words at the beginning and end of a list were remembered differently. Biological evidence from Squire et al also supported distinct short-term and long-term memory systems in the brain.

1. Introduction to Memory
The process by which we retain
information about events that have
happened in the past.

2. Models of Memory
a representation of
how memory Developed by Cognitive Psychologists
works
2. Working
Memory Model
– Baddeley & Hitch
1. Multi-store
Model
– Atkinson & Shiffrin

3. Multi-store Model of Memory (MSM)
Maintenance
rehearsal
(Elaborative)
Rehearsal
Sensory Short Term Long Term
External
Stimuli
Memory Memory Memory
(SM) (STM) (LTM)
Attention
Retrieval
Information If STM capacity Information in
enters information Information
is small,
memory the LTM is
is attended information that is
from the retrieved
to then it is not rehearsed rehearsed is
environment when needed
passed is lost through passed onto
and is and can last a
onto the displacement the LTM
registered by lifetime
STM or decay
the SM

4. Multi-store Model of Memory (MSM)
Key words/phrases! Linear process
Atkinson & Shiffrin
3 distinct (1968)
memory stores
Retrieval
Attention
Constraints e.g.
Rehearsal capacity, duration
and encoding
SM, STM & LTM

5. Get to know your components:
You need to know the characteristics of each
memory store in terms of:
o Capacity
o Encoding
o Duration

6. MSM –
get to know your components
Sensory Memory
Iconic Store –
Touch
Visual input
Receives
Sight
information
from the Sound
Echoic Store –
environment Auditory input
Taste
Smell Haptic Store –
Tactile input
Milliseconds

7. Sensory Memory
Encoding
Capacity Duration
Very brief
Accepts duration
Very limited
information
capacity
through all 5
(Sperling ,1960)
senses Sperling ,1960 –
visual info for
Holds the
Sperling, 1960 – milliseconds
‘impressions’ of
lab exp = iconic
information and
Baddeley, 1988 – Crowder, 2003 –
then they’re
Iconic allows us Auditory info for
gone!
to piece an image 2-3 seconds

8. MSM –
get to know your components
Short Term Memory Receives
information
Small amount of info
from the SM
Information not for a short time
rehearsed is lost
due to decay or Rehearsed
displacement information is passed
into LTM
Decay – Displacement –
Limited duration Limited capacity

9. Short Term Memory
Capacity Encoding Duration
5-9 items Acoustic
0-18 seconds
Jacobs (1887) Baddeley used
used the digit acoustically
span technique similar and Peterson &
dissimilar words Peterson used
nonsense
trigrams

10. MSM –
get to know your components
Receives
Long Term Memory
information
Link between from the
STM
amount of
rehearsal and Via rehearsal
strength of
memory trace
(engram)
Infinite capacity
Can last a lifetime

11. Long Term Memory
Capacity
Encoding Duration
Unlimited
Semantic
Unlimited
Merkle (1988)
Baddeley used
looked at number
semantically
of synapses in Bahrick found
similar and
brain, between that LTM is a
dissimilar words
1000 to 1000000 stable memory
GB store – school
photos

12. MSM – A02
Positive Negative
- Murdock (1962) - KF
- Squire et al (1992)
- KF

13. MSM – A02 (Murdock)
Position Position on
on list list
1 floor 16 voice
2 flower 17 front
3 America 18 degree
4 carpet 19 light
5 laugh 20 chief
6 animal 21 radio
7 point 22 paper
8 race 23 ring
9 hair 24 desk
10 boat 25 tree
11 frame 26 vase
12 mirror 27 smile
13 skin 28 Spain
14 circle 29 clock
15 printer 30 green

14. MSM – A02 (Murdock)

15. MSM – A02
How do you think Murdock provides support for the
Multi-Store Model of memory?
Supports the idea of the LTM and
STM being separate stores
Words at the
beginning of the
Words at the end of the list were list had been
still in the STM rehearsed –
therefore were
Words in the middle of the list had in the LTM
been displaced

16. MSM – A02
STM =
Squire et al prefrontal
cortex
Biological evidence –
LTM =
why is this a good thing? hippocampus
This is a strength because it provides scientific
(biological) evidence of 2 components of memory,
identified by the MSM

17. MSM – A02
STM =
KF severely
impaired
Demonstrates that it is
possible to damage just LTM = intact
one store
This is a strength because it provides evidence for
STM and LTM being unitary stores, as suggested by
the MSM

18. MSM – A02
STM =
KF partially
damaged
Demonstrates that it is
possible to damage part
of one store
This is a weakness because it goes against the MSM
theory that STM is a unitary store, according to MSM
is part of the STM is damaged it all should be.