To what extent does research support the multi store model?

AS Revision part C questions Memory

Atkinson et al (1968) created the multi store model of memory when they argued that there were three memory stores: a sensory store, a short-term store and a long-term store. They argued that the information travelled from the short-term memory (STM) to the long-term memory (LTM) by rehearsing the data.

The multi store model of memory has had many criticisms about its authenticity, such as the examples following. That the model is both rigid and simplistic which gives an oversimplified view of rehearsal and that simply repeating data wont send the information form the short term memory to the long term memory. There is much information suggesting that both STM and LTM are made up of sub-systems. Also, that the BBC radio wavelength changes; despite being repeatedly broadcast, people still couldn’t remember the new wavelength, suggesting that simple rehearsal doesn’t send information from the STM to the LTM.

Despite these negative points, there are many more positive points that do support the multi store model of memory. Such as the senal position effect and the fact that brain scans have shown that the pre-frontal cortex is activated for the STM and the hippocampus is activated for the LTM. There was also the case of HM in which brain surgery after an accident (damaged hippocampus) left the loss of ability to transfer from STM to LTM. HM could remember events before the operation yet forgot things quickly after the operation. Korsakov Syndrome (type of brain damage) causes patients to have faulty STM, but intact LTM.

The positive points that support the multi store model of memory have shown that where there are criticisms against the model, there are also perfectly valid arguments for the model.

Outline and evaluate one alternative model to the multi store model.

The working memory model was argued by Baddeley and Hitch (1974) to be a more accurate representation of short-term memory. It consists of three components: a central executive, an articulatory-phonological loop (concerned with speech) and a visuo-spatial sketch pad (for visual/spatial data).

The ‘central executive’ part of the working model has little known about it and ...

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The positive points that support the multi store model of memory have shown that where there are criticisms against the model, there are also perfectly valid arguments for the model.

Outline and evaluate one alternative model to the multi store model.

The ‘central executive’ part of the working model has little known about it and therefore has little information to support it. Many people criticise the idea of a single central executive and realise that there are probably several central components. This particular model also only considers the STM, in which case, the multi store model would still have to be used in conjunction with this model.

The working memory model does however see the STM as an active processor, which analyses information in detail effectively giving more reason to be valid. The case of KF who was in a motorcycle accident shows that the STM contains different sub-systems. This was discovered as KF could remember pictures (visual information) but could only hold tow digits in memory, showing the articulatory-phonological loop was damaged. Many given tasks have proven that there are at least two different sub systems as it is easy to do visual and verbal tasks simultaneously, yet very hard to do two visual or verbal tasks simultaneously (using the same sub-system). PET scans show activity in different parts of the brain for each visual and verbal tasks.

This evidence suggests that this model is closer than the multi store model yet the STM is more complicated and that more should be researched in to the central executive part of the STM. The working model shows more detail and research in to active processing and in to brief storage. This also accounts for many other researcher’s findings.

Consider what psychological research (theories and/or studies) has told us about the role of emotional factors in forgetting.

When we forget things, the STM either has memories decay or suffers displacement. The LTM either has things decay or suffers interference.

One factor for forgetting is repression, which is when emotionally threatening material is pushed into the unconscious. The anxiety caused by the memory in some way makes it inaccessible to conscious thought. The concept of repression is closely related to the idea of recovered memories. Experiments have been carried out to prove/disprove this theory. Some more convincing evidence for repression has come from ‘repressors’, individuals who have low scores on trait anxiety and high scores on defensiveness. Myers and Brewin (1994) measure the time it took for participants to recall negative childhood memories. Repressors were slower than other personality types. They also found that repressors were the ones who reported having experienced the most indifference and hostility from their fathers. Therefore, the finding suggests that individuals with anxiety-provoking memories are also more likely to replace such memories.

Flash bulb memory happens as an unexpected, emotionally arousing event, which has consequences for us, or our country, may leave a special memory trace. This is when we remember the event, where it was, who it was with, when it was etc… this can be positive or negative. These are long lasting and vivid pictures. McCloskey et al. researched into the idea of whether flash bulb memory was reliable. It was found that participants did forget elements of the even and showed inaccuracies in their recall. This suggests that flash bulb memories are subject to forgetting in the same way that other memories are. Conway et al. (1994) re-researched in to this idea and used a different even to remember, one with important consequences on people. It was shown that 86% still had flash bulb memories after 11 months (29% in other countries).

Such supporting arguments for this and similar cases include: the existence of recovered memory syndrome, success of psychoanalysis at recovering traumatic memories and the studies of WW2 veterans showed that many who had experienced battlefield trauma appeared to repress the memories.

Although, to match the supporting points, there are also negative points including: false memory syndrome, the fact that there is no scientific evidence as most has come form self-reports and the existence of past traumatic stress disorder (rather than repressing traumatic memories, remembering them causing stress).