Atkinson and Shiffrin's Memory Model

Atkinson and Shiffrins stage model of Memory SESSION 16 Dr. Chitrasena Padhy Associate Professor Agricultural Extension

Atkinson and Shiffrins Model of Memory consists of three locations where we store memories: our sensory memory, short-term memory, and long-term memory. Learning about this memory model will help you understand how your brain works to create memories and how you can ensure that the things you need to remember to end up in your long- term memory.

Curious Cases of Short-Term and Long-Term Memory Memory is tricky. It s something that we don t always think about until our memory starts to fail or we interact with someone who has a poor memory. Did you ever watch the romantic comedy 50 First Dates? In the movie, Drew Barrymore plays a woman who has lost her short-term memory loss due to a car accident that caused a TBI. Every morning, Barrymore s character resets and thinks that she is waking up to the day of the accident. This is a case of anterograde amnesia, and it does reflect the lives of people living with this condition.

What is the Multi-Store Model? The multi-store model is an explanation of memory proposed by Atkinson and Shiffrin which assumes there are three unitary (separate) memory stores, and that information is transferred between these stores in a linear sequence. The three main stores are the sensory memory, short- term memory (STM) and long-term memory (LTM).

Each of the memory stores differs in the way information is processed (encoding), how much information can be stored (capacity), and for how long (duration). Information passes from store to store in a linear way, and has been described as an information processing model (like a computer) with an input, process and output. Information is detected by the sense organs and enters the sensory memory, which stores a fleeting impression of sensory stimuli. If attended to this information enters the STM and if the information is given meaning .

1) Sensory Memory Duration: Up to 4 seconds Capacity: Limited to the information from sensory organs Encoding: Different stores for each sense Take a moment to look at what is around you. Listen to the sound of the birds chirping outside or any other background noises. Smell and taste whatever is present. Feel your hands on your desk or your feet on the floor. This is a lot of information to take in! To the brain, every smell, taste, sight, etc. is like a single data point.

2) Short-Term Memory Storage (STM) Duration: Up to 18 seconds, can be longer with rehearsal Capacity: The magic number of 7 plus or minus 2. Encoding: Mostly auditory memory (You remember by repeating in your head) Now we ve started to narrow down the information to what is important. But short-term memory storage isn t as large as sensory memory storage. Our short-term memory can only handle seven items of information at once. (Give or take one or two things.)

3) Long-Term Memory: Duration: Unlimited Encoding: Semantic (We remember the meaning of information) The things that our brain has considered to be most important, most likely things we have repeated to ourselves over and over again, head to our long-term memory storage. We can store an unlimited amount of information in long-term memory, for an unlimited amount of time. Think back to your earliest memory. It certainly stayed in your memory for longer than 18 seconds!

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