Outline the main features of the multi store model of memory. (6 marks)

Atkinson and Shiffrin's (1968) multi store model of memory comprises of three separate memory stores- the sensory store, the short-term store and the long term store (both the short term and long term stores are unitary) . Each store functions differently in both capacity and coding. Firstly, information from environmental stimuli is initially processed in the sensory store for around 3 seconds. The sensory store has unlimited capacity for information, however the information will only be retained in the brain if the individual pays attention to it and rehearses it. If this rehearsal occurs, the information is then transferred in a linear way to the short term store. The short term store has a limited capacity of around 5-10 items, information is encoded acoustically and has a limited duration of 30 seconds where the information is accessible. If the information continues to be rehearsed and consolidated then it will be transferred to the long term memory store, which has unlimited capacity and duration and is encoded semantically. When an individual wants to access a piece of information it is drawn from the long term memory store to the short term memory store before the information can be accessed.If maintenance rehearsal does not occur, then information is lost through the form of displacement (forgetting information due to limited capacity in the short term store) and decay.