Outline and Evaluate the Msm of Memory

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Outline and Evaluate the MSM of memory. MSM stands for the multi-store model and was the first model which tried to outline how the brain and memory worked. Atkinson and Shiffrin designed this in 1968 and it shows the sensory memory, the short term memory and the long term memory. At each stage decay could occur and between the sensory memory and short term memory attention was needed for it to be stored in short term memory. From short term memory to long term memory rehearsal was needed otherwise it would not be entered. Sensory memory is divided into the 5 senses, Iconic, Echoic, Gustatory, Olfactory and Haptic. In sensory memory the information is stored for 1-2 seconds approximately and if it is not given attention it decays. Short term memory lasts for about 30 seconds and can hold around 7 + or – 2 items. If this information is not rehearsed then it will decay and not be entered into long term memory. Long term memory can hold an unlimited capacity of information for infinite duration. However this model was the first of its kind and was the foundation for later models and it therefore had flaws to be improved upon. For example it doesn’t account for flash bold memory which is where something poignant happens which you will never forget and it seems to bypass the sensory and short term memory and go straight into long term. This is not explained in the model of Atkinson and Shiffrin. Also it suggests we have to rehearse everything for it to be stored in long term memory when in real life we do not rehearse everything in order for it to be remembered. This means this could only apply to experimental conditions. Furthermore it is oversimplistic as it doesn’t describe in detail and we know that there are more long term memory stores than just the one. However, they were the first people to attempt to make a model of the brain and they have shown a
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