Memory Evaluate two models or theories of one

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 Memory Atkinson and Shiffrin 1968

The Multi-Store Model of Memory Atkinson 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 Memory Atkinson 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 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. " • Rehearsal

Long Term Memory • Unlimited storehouse of information. • Explicit (declarative) memories • Implicit (nondeclarative) memories

Explicit Memories • Episodic Memories • Semantic Memories

Implicit Memories • Procedural Memories • Conditioned Memories

The Multi-Store Model of Memory Atkinson and Shiffrin 1968

Forgetting

Forgetting Getting a new bus number and forgetting old bus number. • Retroactive Interference: new information blocks out old information. • Proactive Interference: old information blocks out new information. Calling your new girlfriend by old girlfriends name.

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 • H. M. could store damage to hippocampus implicit memories but and related networks. not explicit memories. • MRI scans showed that • This shows that the H. M. had severe damage to memory system hippocampus which is contains different critical to store info in LTM. systems.

Multi-Store Model Strengths and Weaknesses Strengths Weakenesses • It was the first modern • Very simplistic 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.