AtkinsonShiffrininformatieverwerking

The Atkinson–Shiffrin model, also known as the multi-store model of memory, is a cognitive theory proposed by Richard Atkinson and Richard Shiffrin in 1968. It conceptualizes memory as a system of three distinct stores: sensory memory, short-term memory, and long-term memory. Information from the environment first enters sensory memory, where it is held briefly and selectively attended to. Attended information is transferred to short-term memory (STM), where it can be held and manipulated for brief periods. Through rehearsal and encoding operations, some of this information is transferred into long-term memory (LTM) for later retrieval. Information may be lost at any stage via decay or displacement when new information overwrites older material.

Sensory memory comprises brief registers such as iconic memory for visual input and echoic memory for auditory input. Iconic memory lasts only a fraction of a second, while echoic memory persists for a few seconds, providing a window for processing.

Short-term memory is characterized by a limited capacity, commonly cited as 5–9 items, and a limited duration, roughly 15–30 seconds without rehearsal. Rehearsal maintains information in STM, while elaborative encoding and other strategies facilitate transfer to LTM. Long-term memory stores information for extended periods, potentially permanently, with retrieval bringing information back into STM for conscious use.

The model has been influential in shaping research on memory but has faced criticism for oversimplification and for treating STM as a unitary store. Subsequent theories, such as Baddeley’s working memory model, expanded the view of short-term structures and processes, leading to a more nuanced understanding of memory organization.