MEMORY
The working memory model(WMM)- an explanation that sees STM as an active store holding several pieces of information simultaneously
Short-term memory(STM)- a temporary store holding small amounts of information for brief periods
The multi-store model of memory(MSM) - an explanation of memory that sees information flowing through a series of storage systems
Sensory memory(SM)- a short- duration store holding impressions of information received by the senses
Long-term memory(LTM)- a permanent store holding limitless amounts of information for long periods
Is not under cognitive control, but is an automatic response to the reception of sensory information by the sense organs
First storage system within MSM
Storing in raw, unprocessed form, highly detailed and ever-changing format
Limited duration: not exactly known, but each sensory store has its own and the duration will decrease with age
Each sensory memory store has large capacity
Separate sensory stores
Echoic store for auditory information
Iconic store for visual information
Haptic store for tactile information
Gustatory store for taste information
Olfactory store for smell
The information that you pay attention to will move on to STM
Researches
Crowder(1993)- encoding and different durations
Walsh & Thompson(1978)- iconic sensory store has an average duration of 500 milliseconds
Receives temporary information from SM- contains informations being currently thought about
Active(changing) memory system
Raw information from SM is encoded in a form that STM can easily deal with
Visually- by thinking of the image
Acoustically- by repeatedly saying the information(MAIN ONE)
Semantically-(through meaning)by using previous knowledge of certain information
Limited capacity: 5-9 items can be held, can be increased by chunking(grouping information into larger units)
Limited duration: about 30seconds
Research
Jacobs(1887)- capacity, mundane realism
Marsh et al.(1997)- duration
Mundane realism- the extent to which findings of studies can be generalized to real-life settings
Other factors, like age and practise influence capacitty
Duration: from 30seconds until death, based on skills last longer than facts
All information in LTM has originally passed through SM and STM + different processes
Different types:
Semantic- what something means
Episodic- when something was learned
Procedural-how to do something
Can change or merge with other LTMs
LTMs are not of equal strenght
Process of shaping and storing LTMs is spread through multiple brain regions
Researches
Frost(1972)- visual and semantic code
Fagot&Cook(1996)- enlarged memory capacity has a survival value
Bahrick et al.(1975)-memory for faces is long lasting
Anokhin(1973)- capacity of LTM is limitless
Treisman(1964)- 2second limitation+ difference in duration from iconic store
Walsh&Thompson(1978)- duration of SM is limited and dependent on age
Miller(1956)- chunks- the type of material and the amount of information
Reitman(1974)- short duration of STM is due to displacement(new information pushes out the older one)
Encoding
Involves the form by which LTMs are stored
Coding will be stronger(also more retrievable) the deeper the level of processing of a stimulus that occurs while it is being experienced
Capacity: unlimited
Verbal- mainly semantic (can also be visual or acoustic)
Information may have problems with access, but everything is in LTM
Evaluation
First cognitive explanation of memory
Research evidence for SM,STM and LTM
Supported by amnesia cases(Lawton,2015)
The serial position effect(Murdock,1962) also supports the model
Criticism: oversimplified
Central executive(CE)- oversees and coordinates the components of working memory
2 'slaves' + 3rd later on
Visuospatial sketchpad(VSS)-deals with visual information and the physical relationship of items to each other
Phonological loop(PL)- deals with auditory information and order of the information
Determines which information received by sense organs in and is not attended to
Processes information in all sensory forms, then sends to 'slave' system and collects results
1 strand of information at the time aka limited capacity---> selectively switches
Researches
Baddeley(1996)- limited capacity
D'Esposito et al.(1995)-prefrontal's associate with workings of CE
Very little information about it!
In control of the focus of attention rather than being memory store
Similar to the rehearsal system in the MSM--> limited capacity
Confusions occur with similar sounding words
2 sub-parts
Articulatory process(AP)- inner voice
Primary acoustic store(PAS)-inner ear
Stores words that have been recently been heard
Keeps information in PL through sub-vocal repetition of information
Linked to speech production
Associated with evolution of human vocal language
Researches
Baddeley(1996)
Trojani&Grossi(1995)- PL recognised as seperated system
divided PL into 2 sub-parts
1975-capacity of PL is set by how long does it take to say words
Handles non-phonological information
Temporary store for visual and spatial information and the relationship between them
Helps individuals to navigate and interact with physical environment
Information is being coded and rehearsed through the use of mental pictures
2 sub-parts
Inner scribe(IS)
Visual cache(VC)
Stores information about form and colour
Stores information about physical(spatial) relationship of items
Rehearses and transfer information in the VC to the CE
Researches
Klauer&Zhao(2004)-existence of VC and IS
Episodic buffer(EB)- temporary store of integrated information from CE, VSS, PL and LTM
Was added in 2000 to address the shortcomings of the model
Researches
Baddeley(2000)- founding
Explains how it is possible to temporarily store information combined together from CE, PL, VSS AND LTM
Alkhalifa(2009)-existence of EB, holding items in the working memory until recalled
Evaluation
Explains memory more
More than 1 type of STM + wide range of mental processes
Explains the execution of everyday tasks
Not a full explanation of memory
Criticism:inability to explain accelerations in processing ability that occurs with practise or over time
LTM without MSM's oversimplification
Implicit-non-declarative
Explicit-declarative
Procedural LTM-for the performance of particular types of action
Episodic LTM- for events
Semantic LTM - for meanings understanding, and other concept based knowledge
Researches
Researches
Researches
Van Gorp et al.(1999)-dopamine's role
Lack of research- brain areas involved
Azar(2007)-semantic memory involves different processes and brain areas
Vicari et al.(2007)-episodic and semantic being different LTMs
Herlitz et al.(1997)-gender difference in episodic memory abilities
Endel Tulving(1972)- first suggested episodic memory
Contains all learned knowledge
Strength also associated with degree of processing occuring during coding
Give people autobiographic record of personal experiences
Strength depends on emotions experienced at the time of the event + degree of processing of information at coding
Prefrontal cortex associated with initial coding(strength)
Helps people distinguish real events from imaginational ones
Neocortex associated with storage of memories
Part of events are stored in different sections of the brain, but connected in hippocampus to create a memory of an episode
Similar to the episodic LTM, but associates rather with objective analysis of phenomena
Coding involves frontal and temporal lobes* but there is a disagreement on that part
Damages to different parts of the brain affect it differently
Helps/permits individual to perform learned tasks
Procedural LTMs are hard to explain in words
Also involved in language(permits people to use grammar, etc. without thinking)
does not require conscious thought
Neocortex brain areas of primary motor cortex
Cerebellum
Prefrontal cortex