Evaluate the multi-store model of memory (4 marks).

The case study of HM, as reported by Milner (1966), can be used to evaluate this model. HM had both of his hippocampi and parts of the temporal lobe removed following a lifetime of epileptic seizures. Following this surgery, he had problems with forming new declarative long term memories (LTM), but could perform short-term memory tasks (STM), such as retrieving previously formed LTMs. This can be used to support the multi-store model of memory, as the case of HM suggests that the LTM and STM are separate stores, which concurs with the model. However, a limitation of the multi-store model of memory is that it treats the LTM as one single unit, and the case of HM suggests otherwise. Despite not being able to form new semantic or episodic memories, HM performed in the reverse drawing task that was administered to him on a number of occasions, even though he could not remember participating in this, suggesting he could form new procedural LTMs. This suggests that LTM has a number of separate stores, which the multi-store model does not account for, so is a limitation.