Question

Demonstrate an understanding of an aspect of either Atkinson & Shifrin's model or Baddeley's model of memory. For instance, one stage of memory (Sensory, Short-Term/Working, or a type of Long-Term) can be defined and exemplified. Is there a factor that would impact the accuracy of encoding or retrieval for the memory chosen?   

After establishing how memory works for most of us, examine one of the links for people with either incredible or impaired memories. Discuss one way in which the memory of one of these differs from most people's memory. Include differences in automatic or effortful processing if applicable.   

- Clyde: The Man with a 30 Second Memory

- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmzU47i2xgw

- H.M.

- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQASyR0w8Qo

- The Mind of the Savant

- http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/beautiful-minds-the-psychology-of-the-savant/

- Five Incredible Memories

- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAbQvmf0YOQ

- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1th1fVIc8Vo

Answer 1

According to they Atkinson Shifrin model of memory, memory is an active and continuous storehouse of information which comprises of a hierarchicy or a three- tier level of multiple independent memory structures namely, the sensory memory, short term memory and the long term memory. The accuracy of storage and recall of a particular information depends on the level at which it is processed and stored. The sensory memory is the most temporary storehouse of sensory information, then comes the short term memory for relatively more enduring memories ranging from a few seconds to minutes and finally the long term memory which is a permanent storehouse. For the present discussion, the short term memory will be viewed more closely.

The Short term memory or the STM consists of the sensory information from the sensory memory which has been attended to and interpreted through the process of perception. The short term memory has a relatively short duration of 1-30 minutes after which the information is prone to forgetting if it is otherwise not consciously repeated and remembered. The STM has a capacity of 1+-8 which means that one can remember up to 9 items with ease without much effort after which memory techniques would be needed to improvise the memory capacity. Such type of memory is activated when we try to simply repeat ad recall a set of numbers when dialling a phone number. The inofmation is however lost after dialling the number because it was only rudimentarily processed using the technique of repeatition. The Capacity of STM can be increased by performing higher processing of information such as using the method of ‘chunking’ where a 9 digit phone number would be broken down into sets of 3 digits such as 231 546 879. Such a coding would help to develop a memory peg and help in the further encoding of information in the STM so that it can move and be stored permanently in the next higher memory that is the long term memory. Without the encoding of information, the information stored in the STM will gradually decay within a 1-2 hours.

However, there are cases of people with exceptional STMs who can recall a large chunk of information beyond the average memory capacity of 1+- 8. Such individuals called Savants or the ‘all knowing’ , may show some cognitive or behavioural impairment, mostly autistic syndrome in their other spheres of life but they are said to be truly exceptional or ‘gifted’in their memory capabilities. The memory of the Savants brings us to the fact that there are differences between individuals in the way information is processed. For one, average individuals rely on the higher process of reasoning and interpreting the information while moving the informa from the STM to the LTM. Savants however are found to engage in automatic, rigid, more rule-bound processing of the information which allows them to effectively move across a greater piece of information in less span of time.