Outline and evaluate the multi-store model of memory.

The multi-store model was developed by Atkinson and Shiffrin (1968) in order to make the distinction between the separate stores of memory; the sensory, short term and long term. Sensory memory is characterised by having a very short duration, having to take in everything we sense. This information is then passed to the short term memory, if paid attention to. The short and long term memory are seen as unitary stores in which information is passed between and rehearsal is needed. Short term memory has a limited capacity and duration. Long term memory has an unlimited capacity and duration. Whilst the short term encodes acoustically, the long term encodes semantically.
In evaluation, Miller's (1957) case study supports the idea of differences in capacity, encoding and duration between the stores; his subject was unable to retain new information but the digit span was normal. Further case studies have detailed that impaired short term memory does not affect in tact long term memory, and vice versa. However, the model is oversimplified. It does not address the actual nature of the information, or how people can have flash-bulb memories that skip short term memory rehearsal. The famous case of Clive Wearing provides us further nuances within the long term memory. He lost his episodic but not procedural memory, which suggests there is more than one type of long term memory.