Multistore Model Memory (MSM)

Memory is an individual’s way of interacting with his/her world and perceiving new information. It’s a complex system that stores, retrieves, and acknowledges information, and the way it functions is still a mystery to man-kind. Nonetheless, there have been numerous theories and models about the way in which memory functions. One of these theories within the cognitive level of psychology is called ‘the multistore model of memory’ (MSM), which was proposed by Atkinson and Shiffrin (1968). The model claims that the memory is not a single unit, but it is made up of three different types of memory; the sensory store, the short-term store (STS), and the long-term store (LTS). These different stores vary in the duration which they can hold a memory, the capacity of their storage, and the coding or way in which each stores specific information. The information is first received by the sensory memory, then, it is sent over to STS, and by repeating the data continuously, it will be sent to the LTS where it can be retrieved again to the STS. The idea is far too simple to be applied to something as complex as the memory, and has been doubted to be true by many scientists, but on the other hand, there are examples such as the case of HM to support this plain model.

The case of HM was a breakthrough in almost all aspects of psychology and physiology. Its relation to the MSM is the consequences that HM’s memory encountered after the surgery he underwent in order to reduce his epileptic seizures. During the surgery the hippocampus was removed from his brain, making him incapable of creating long term memories and remembering. However, he could perfectly hold information in his STS, but if he would stop repeating it, he would forget about the information, which is exactly one of the terms of MSM. The MSM claims that STS can hold a piece of information only for a few seconds, and if not rehearsed, the information will not be able to be sent over to the LTS where it can be stored for a much longer period of time. If the case of HM were to be looked at within the aspects of MSM, then the reason he could not remember things was that he lost his LTS in the process of the surgery; so no matter how many times he were to repeat something, he would not be able to hold that information in a store/memory that doesn’t exist. Therefore, the case of HM is a great case study to support the MSM.

On the other hand, there are also studies that oppose to the MSM, believing that the idea is too modest and does not completely explain the function of memory because it is oversimplified. In 1966, Adriaan De Goot (famous psychologist and chess player) conducted an experiment on expert chess players and novice ones. In his research, he made the conclusion that expert chess players were extremely good at remembering the chess positions and their STS showed good results; but this applied only when the players were familiar with the rules they had been playing. As soon as the pieces would be placed randomly across the board, they were not able to recall the positions, and were just as bad as the novice players at this task. So the STS and LTS are not as separate as the MSM has explained it to be, and they ought to be more complex than just two distinct unitary stores. There has to be sub-units to these stores and different ways of storing information in each one, because one simple unit cannot store all types of information in one way. It would be an overly simple idea if it were to function in that way.

Then again, the MSM is only a proposed idea of how our memory works and like all other ideas, it will contain strengths and weaknesses. Nonetheless, since the proposal of this model, a massive step has been taken towards finding out the true process of the memory, and there have also been great successions in the studies regarding this matter. I do believe that the MSM is a valid explanation of how our memory functions most of the time, and is backed up by many supporting studies, but there are criticisms being made of the model as well that can’t be ignored. It does lack accuracy, and it is not a complete explanation. Step by step, with the help of people involved in the psychology, this definition of memory will be either changed or completed, and at some point, the mystery of memory will be unraveled.