How is Memory Processed? – Multi-Store Memory Model

Memory is a part of cognitive processing that includes encoding, storage, and information retrieval. The Multi-Store Memory Model (Atkinson & Shiffrin, 1968) depicts how memory is processed in the human brain according to the three distinct types of memory based on its duration and capacity – sensory memory, short-term memory (STM), and long-term memory (LTM). Sensory memory is the brief memory from the sense, which creates perceptual continuity. It lasts for a fraction of a second, with its capacity comprising vast information from the senses. Sensory memory can be processed into STM with the presence of attention. STM briefly holds a limited amount of information in awareness, which is kept for less than 30 seconds and has a capacity of 7±2 chunks of information. If STM undergoes rehearsal, it is transferred to LTM, which has an indefinite duration and capacity. This response will discuss the Multi-Store Memory Model with reference to Glanzer and Cunitz (1966). 

The aim of Glanzer and Cunitz (1966) was to investigate if STM and LTM are separate stores. The researchers set up an experiment with repeated measures of participants comprising 240 army personnel. The participants were given a list of 35 words to memorize and had to write down as many words as they could recall in any order. The experiment employed three conditions: immediate recall, delayed recall in 10 seconds, and delayed recall in 30 seconds. The delayed recall conditions involved a backward counting filler task. The results have shown that the primacy effect stayed intact in all conditions, while the recency effect was only maintained by the free recall group –  primacy and recency effects were both shown in the immediate recall condition. As a result, this study shows how STM and LTM are two separate memory stores. 

According to Glanzer and Cunitz (1966), both primacy and recency effects were shown in the first condition as the participants were able to “rehearse” and repeat the words at the beginning, enabling the words to be stored in LTM which indicates the primacy effect. The last words were easily recalled because they were stored in STM, demonstrating the recency effect. However, in the second and third conditions, the recency effect was removed as the filler task prevented the participants’ rehearsal at the beginning; the information decayed during the 10 and 30 seconds of the filler task. This difference between the conditions not only shows that STM and LTM are stored separately, but also demonstrates that STM doesn’t last longer than 30 seconds, as the participants were not able to recall the last words. Hence, this study supports the Multi-Store Memory Model as it explains the distinction between STM and LTM.