multistoremodellen

The multistore model of memory, often referred to as the Atkinson-Shiffrin model, is a cognitive psychological model that describes the structure of memory as a system consisting of three distinct stores. These stores are sensory memory, short-term memory, and long-term memory. Information is believed to flow sequentially through these stores.

Sensory memory is the first stage, holding incoming sensory information for a very brief period, typically fractions of a second to a few seconds. This store has a large capacity but is highly fleeting. Examples include the iconic memory of a visual image or the echoic memory of a sound.

If attention is paid to the information in sensory memory, it is transferred to short-term memory. Short-term memory has a limited capacity, often cited as around seven plus or minus two items, and a limited duration, usually around 15 to 30 seconds without rehearsal. Information here can be actively manipulated through processes like rehearsal, which helps to maintain it.

From short-term memory, information can be transferred to long-term memory through processes like encoding and consolidation. Long-term memory is considered to have a virtually unlimited capacity and duration, storing information for extended periods, from minutes to a lifetime. Retrieval from long-term memory allows us to access stored knowledge and experiences. While influential, the multistore model has been refined and expanded upon by subsequent theories, such as the working memory model, which offers a more dynamic view of short-term memory.