Memory

Evaluate two models or theories of one cognitive process with reference to research studies.

We will be focusing on two models of memory.

The Multi-Store Model of MemoryAtkinson and Shiffrin 1968

The Multi-Store Model of MemoryAtkinson and Shiffrin 1968

Three step process….

1. Encoding: The processing of information into the memory system.

2. Storage: The retention of encoded material over time.

3. Retrieval: The process of getting the information out of memory storage.

The Multi-Store Model of MemoryAtkinson and Shiffrin 1968

Sensory Memory

• A split second holding tank for ALL sensory information.

• Sperling’s research on Iconic Memory

• Echoic Memory

Short Term Memory

• The stuff we encode from the sensory goes to STM.

• Events are encoded visually, acoustically or semantically.

• Holds about 7 (plus or minus 2) items for about 6-15 seconds.

• We recall digits better than letters.Short Term Memory Activity

Ways to remember things in STM…so they go to LTM

• Chunking: Organizing items into familiar, manageable units.

• Mnemonic devices or Peg Systems

• Rehearsal

1-4-9-2-1-7-7-6-1-8-1-2-1-9-4-1

"Mary Very Easily Makes Jam Saturday Unless No Plums."

Long Term Memory

• Unlimited storehouse of information.

• Explicit (declarative) memories

• Implicit (non-declarative) memories

Explicit Memories

• Episodic Memories

• Semantic Memories

Implicit Memories

• Procedural Memories

• Conditioned Memories

The Multi-Store Model of MemoryAtkinson and Shiffrin 1968

Forgetting

Forgetting

• Retroactive Interference: new information blocks out old information.

• Proactive Interference: old information blocks out new information.

Calling your new girlfriend by old girlfriends name.

Getting a new bus number and forgetting old bus number.

Spacing Effect

• DO NOT CRAM!!!!!!!!!!!!

• Ebbinghaus’s Forgetting Curve

Take out a piece of paper and name all the Presidents…

Encoding Information

• Primacy Effect

• Recency Effect

• Serial Positioning Effect

Glanzer and Cunitz 1966

Aim:• To investigate recency

effect in free recall.Procedure:• This was a laboratory

experiment where participants first heard a list of items and them immediately had to recall them in any order.

Glanzer and Cunitz 1966

Results:• Participants recalled

words from the beginning of the list and end of the list best.

• The results showed a U shaped curve.

Glanzer and Cunitz 1966

• If the participants were given a filler task (something to do) right after the last words, the primacy effect disappeared but the recency effect remained.

Why?• Maybe the words are still

active in STM.

Glanzer and Cunitz 1966

Evaluation• The study supports the

idea of multiple stores (STM and LTM).

• Controlled lab experiment.

• Ecological validity issues?

Case study example of Multi-Store Model

• Amnesia is caused by damage to hippocampus and related networks.

• MRI scans showed that H.M. had severe damage to hippocampus which is critical to store info in LTM.

• H.M. could store implicit memories but not explicit memories.

• This shows that the memory system contains different systems.

Multi-Store ModelStrengths and Weaknesses

Strengths• It was the first modern

model of memory.• The fact that we have

multiple stores is supported by research.

• Most of the newer models have been based of this one.

Weakenesses• Very simplistic