However there is much research which contradicts this idea of the multi store memory and many criticisms have been thrown at it. It has been criticised as being a passive, one way, and linear model. In other words it is implying that the Multi Store Memory (MSM) is an over simplistic representation of the brain which only works in a one way system from sensory memory to STM and with rehearsal to the LTM. Atkinson and Shriffin also proposed that rehearsal is the only method in which information is transferred to the LTM. Despite this there has been evidence of flash bulb memories which require no rehearsal and are very long lasting. This proves that the MSM is unlikely to be the only method in which information is stored in the LTM.
Although it is vital to note that Atkinson and Shriffin (1968) provides sound evidence on an account of memory in terms of both structure and process and has encouraged psychologists to conduct further research into the MSM I feel that it fails to highlight the structures and processes of the memory. According to the MSM, STM and LTM operate in a single uniform fashion or a linear fashion. Evidence that disproves this idea came from the case study of KF (Shallice and Warrington, 1970). They found that KF, who had suffered brain damage, found it difficult to deal with verbal information in STM but had a normal ability to process visual information. This suggests that the STM is not a single store. MSM also describes LTM as a single store; however Schachter et al. (2000) found that there are four long-term stores after collecting evidence from patients with amnesia. These were; Semantic memory, Episodic memory, Procedural memory and Perceptual- representation system memory. This proves that the LTM is more complex and diverse that the single representation of LTM in the MSM.
The MSM suggests that STM is involved before LTM as a one way system. Research has found that this is not the only means by which information is transported to the LTM. Logie (1999) stated that the STM in fact relies on the LTM and therefore cannot come first. For example, when chunking a list of letters, in order to chunk the letters you need to recall the meaningful groups of letters and such meanings are stored in the LTM. Ruchkin et al. tested this by asking participants to recall a set of words and pseudo-words. Two large differences were found in the brain activity monitored. If words and pseudo-words involved just STM then activity should have been the same for both conditions, however there was much more activity when real words were processed indicating the involvement of other areas of the brain. They concluded that STM is actually just part of LTM which is activated at any given time.
The working memory model also embraces the theory of a short-term store. The MSM model’s STM was a place to hold information as it is being moved into LTM, whereas the concept of the working memory model is that it is an end in itself. It is a place where information is held until it is put to use.
by
amyvanschalkwyk (student)
