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Multi-store model of memory

Attention moves words into short-term memory, and rehearsal moves them on into long-term memory.

More, if you want it

Outcomes (5)

Identify whether or holds information, from its duration, capacity or code.
Predict how a 30-second distraction changes recall of the last words, using the .
Predict how a 30-second distraction changes recall of the first words, using the .
Explain why moves words into .
Explain why moves words into .

Summary

moves words from into , and moves words on into .
holds a raw copy for about 0.5 second. Ignored words in that time.
holds about 5 to 9 words for 15 to 30 seconds, coded mainly by sound.
Early words are rehearsed and consolidated, which gives the .
Recency comes from short-term memory. A 30-second distraction removes the last words.
A duration of seconds, a span of 5 to 9 or a sound code points to short-term memory.

Map

Sensory memory: attention moves words from the raw copy into short-term memory.
Short-term memory: holds the attended words, which rehearsal keeps from decaying.
Primacy and recency: rehearsal and delay split the list into two ends.
Summary table: compares the two stores by duration, capacity and code.

Sensory memory

Must know

Example

Aisha sees a word flash on a screen, and the exact picture stays for about 0.5 second.

holds a copy of a word for half a second. Sensory memory holds a large amount of raw, unprocessed information.

Example

Aisha sees a word flash on a screen, and the exact picture stays for about 0.5 second. No or processing happens at this stage.

Paying to the copy moves the word into . Without attention, the decays and the word is lost. Aisha hears a word list next. The words she attends to arrive in short-term memory.

More: Iconic memoryNice to know1.4.315 s

Iconic memory is the visual form of sensory memory. A volunteer who sees a grid of letters briefly may feel that she saw all of it. The raw copy fades before she can name more than a few letters.

Strand: Recall across a list | A delay removes the last words and leaves the first words. Primacy and recency are the two ends of the list.

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