Cognitive Psychology

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Zoe Thaxter

Cognitive Psychology

This essay will be looking at two theories of Memory and two theories of Forgetting. The Multi-store model and Levels of Processing (LOP), for memory. Trace Decay and Cue-dependency theory for forgetting.

The Multi-store model is one of the theories of memory; it is concerned with identifying the different memory stores. Atkinson and Shiffrin (1968) suggested that there are three types of information stores these are the sensory register, the short –term memory and the long-term memory. The sensory register only holds information for a fraction of a second this information is then passed to the short-term memory which holds a few items for a few seconds. Information that is rehearsed in the short-term memory will then go to the long-term memory where information can be hold for an unlimited amount of time.

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There is clear evidence both from case studies and experiments of brain damaged patients that there are separate systems of short-term memory and long-term memory. However there is also strong evidence from cases of HM and FK, to suggest that there are several separate stores of long-term memory, like the holding of different information such as facts, events and skills. There is also evidence to suggest that material in short-term memory is analysed for meaning and not just for sound.

The Levels of Processing (LOP) theory is the second theory of memory, Craik and Lackart(1972) suggested that ...

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