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The Multi Store Model - Long Term Memory - Coggle Diagram
The Multi Store Model - Long Term Memory
Involves storing information over long period of time , sometimes for a whole lifetime , with information stored for longer than 30 seconds counting as LTM
All information within LTM will have originally passed through the SR and STM , though may have undergone different forms of processing during the process
Research indicates that there are several different types of LTM and LTMS are not equal in strength
Strong LTMS can be retrieved easily , eg when your birthday is , but weaker LTMS may need more prompting
LTMs are not passive (unchanging) - over time they may change or merge with other LTMs. This is why memories aren't always constant or accurate . There are several explanations for forgetting LTM
Research also indicates that the process of shaping and storing LTMs is spread through multiple bran regions
Coding in LTM
How information is shaped into representation of memories
Coding of information will be stronger ( and therefore memory is more retrievable ) the deeper the level of processing of a stimulus that occurs while it is being experienced
With verbal material , coding in LTM is mainly semantic though coding occurs in other forms too , research indicating a visual and acoustic code ( Baddeley 1966 )
Frost (1972) gave participants 16 drawings in four categories (eg animals) , differing in visual orientation , like angle of viewing perspective . The order of recall of items suggested participants used visual and semantic coding , implying evidence for a visual as well as semantic code in LTM
Nelson and Rothbart (1972) showed that acoustic coding also occurs in LTM , as participants made recall errors involving homophones , words that are pronounced the same but have different meanings , (eg knight and night) again suggesting that coding in LTM has several varieties
Coding in LTM evaluation
Its difficult to see how smells and tastes could be coded semantically and reason suggests that songs are encoded acoustically , supporting the idea of several forms of encoding
Different types of LTM involve different brain areas , with research suggesting that they are encoded in different ways , which implies that there are varying forms of coding within LTM
Capacity of LTM
The potential capacity of LTM is unlimited
Information may be lost due to decay and interference , but such losses don't occur due to limitation of capacity
Anokhin ( 1973) estimated the number of possible neuronal connections in the human brain is 1 followed by 10.5 million kilometres of noughts . He concluded that 'no human yet exists who can use all the potential of their brain' , suggesting the capacity of LTM is limitless
Wagenaar (1986) created a diary of 2400 events over 6 years and tested himself on recall of events rather than dates , finding he too had excellent recall , again suggesting thee capacity of the LTM is extremely large . Diary studies , however , are a type of case study and therefore are not representative of the general population and there could also be an element of bias as people are testing themselves
Capacity of LTM evaluation
The capacity of LTM is assumed to be limitless , as research has not been able to determine a finite capacity
There may be an evolutionary basis to LTM : animal studies , like that of Fagot and Cook (1996) showed that pigeons can memorise 1200 picture response associations . Baboons still hadn't reached their capacity after three years of training , memorising 5000 associations . This suggests that an enlarged memory capacity has a survival value , which has been acted upon by natural selection
Duration of LTM
Depends of the individuals lifespan , as memories can last for a lifetime : many elderly people have detailed childhood memories
Items in LTM have a longer duration if originally well coded and certain LTMs have a longer duration , like those based on skills rather than facts
Material in STM that isn't rehearsed is quickly forgotten , but information in LTM doesn't have to be continuously rehearsed to be retained
Bahrick (1975) showed 400 participants aged between 17 and 74 years a set of photos and a list of names , some of which were ex school friends , and asked them to identify ex school friends . Those who'd left high school in the last fifteen years identified 90% of the faces and names , while those who'd left 48 years previously , identified 80% of faces and 70% of names , suggesting memory for faces is long lasting
Goldman and Seamon (1992) asked participants to identify odours of everyday products experienced in the last 2 years and odours not experienced since childhood . Although identification (by name) was better for more recent odours , there was a significant identification of less recent odours , suggesting duration of olfactory information in LTM is long lasting
Duration of LTM evaulation
Sometimes information in LTM appears to be lost , but may be a problem of access to the information rather than it not being in LTM
The type of testing techniques used may affect findings from studies of duration of LTM . Recall is often better when asking participants to recognise stimuli , rather than getting them to recall stimuli
