Human Memory Human Memory Lesson 13
LTM & Capacity Produced by
www.psychologyrevise.com www.learnconnect.co.uk
Key Terms Memory: the mental process involved in registering, storing and retrieving information. Capacity: the amount of information that can be stored in memory at any particular time. Duration: the length of time that information can be kept in memory. Encoding: changing sensory input into a form or code to be processed by the memory system.
STM: a limited capacity system for storing information or short periods. LTM: an unlimited capacity for storing information for long periods. Multi-store model of memory: an explanation of memory as a flow of information through a series of stages in a fixed sequence. The best known model of this type was proposed by Atkinson and Schifrin.
 Working Memory: a model of memory formulated by Baddeley and Hitch to replace the concept of STM. It proposes a multi-component, flexible system concerned with active processing and storage of short-term information.
What I need to know about STM & LTM What is the difference between STM & LTM
Capacity Duration Encoding
What evidence supports The distinction between STM & LTM
Case Studies Primacy & Recency Encoding Differences
Capacity and LTM • Long-term memory (LTM) holds a vast amount of information, which can be stored for long periods of time. • The information in LTM includes all of our personal memories, our general knowledge, and beliefs about the world. • It also includes our plans for the future and it is an area where all our knowledge about skills and expertise are stored.
• LTM is not a passive store of information, but rather a dynamic store that constantly revises and modifies stored information in light of new information. • LTM is a much larger and complex memory store than STM. • It differs in terms of capacity, duration and encoding.
• It is likely that LTM is not a single store but rather a combination of different systems with each having different functions with regards to memory.
• Why have psychologists come to this assumption about LTM ?
• It is not possible to quantify the capacity of LTM, most psychologists believe there is no upper limit – because we are always capable of more learning. • The capacity of LTM has to be a highly organised structure, otherwise items would be difficult to retrieve. • Many researchers have suggested that the LTM is divided into a number of stores and this can be explained by Clive Wearing’s memory.