A Brief Account of the Multi-Store Model of Memory and Its Strengths and Weaknesses Essay Example
A Brief Account of the Multi-Store Model of Memory and Its Strengths and Weaknesses Essay Example

A Brief Account of the Multi-Store Model of Memory and Its Strengths and Weaknesses Essay Example

Available Only on StudyHippo
  • Pages: 2 (276 words)
  • Published: October 12, 2017
  • Type: Essay
View Entire Sample
Text preview

Atkinson and Shiffrin's (1968) Multi-Store Model of Memory proposes that there are three distinct memory stores: sensory memory, short-term memory (STM) and long-term memory (LTM). Sensory memory briefly holds information from the five senses unless attention is given. STM has limited capacity and duration unless verbally rehearsed. LTM has potentially unlimited capacity and duration. Atkinson and Shiffrin suggested that attention moves information from sensory memory to STM, and rehearsal transfers it into LTM. They also claimed that information rehearsed in STM is more strongly remembered in LTM.

One benefit of the Multi-Store Model of Memory is its validation by modern techniques, such as PET scans, which support the existence of various memory stores: sensory memory, STM, and LTM. These scans indicate that the prefrontal cortex is active when working on immediate STM tasks. Conversely

...

, the hippocampus is active when using LTM, which was also corroborated by HM's (1966) case study where his removal of both hippocampi resulted in an inability to form new LTM. Nevertheless, HM exhibited the ability to complete STM tasks that use the prefrontal cortex. However, the Multi-Store Model of Memory may oversimplify memory processes since it doesn't account for different types of LTM, such as episodic and procedural memory. Instead of separating LTM stores, this model implies a singular large store for all LTM information.

The proposed model of memory has a drawback as it suggests that rehearsal is the sole way by which data is stored in LTM, despite numerous instances where people retain information without rehearsing it, including long-lasting flashbulb memories. This indicates that it is improbable that rehearsal is the solitary method for remembering information in the LTM.

View entire sample
Join StudyHippo to see entire essay

Get an explanation on any task
Get unstuck with the help of our AI assistant in seconds
New