Outline and evaluate the multi-store model of memory. (12 marks)

A particular strength of this model is that it is supported by evidence, and as this is based on real people, it is more valid and therefore can be applied to everyday life. For instance, the case of H.M.: he underwent brain surgery in which his hippocampus was removed to cure severe epilepsy but this led to the incapability to transfer information from short-term memory to long-term memory so he was not able to create long-term memories. This supports the concept that there are multiple stores.

A further example of how this concept is proved correct is through research which involved brain scans. Scientists have found that different sections of the brain need to be active when completing short-term memory tasks; this contrasts brain activity during long-term memory tasks. Subsequently, this proves that there are different stores which become active at different times.

However, this model suggests that short-term memory and long-term memory are unitary stores and this is proved incorrect by the case of KF. Brain damage led to difficulty dealing with verbal information in short-term memory but a normal ability to process visual information. This shows that the short-term memory store contains multiple stores.

Another weakness of this model is that it possesses too much simplicity for such a complex process as it explains very little about the short-term memory and long-term memory. It does not take into account that, for instance, there are different types of long-term memory e.g. semantic, procedural and episodic.