The Modal Model of Memory is a widely accepted psychological model that explains how information is processed, stored, and retrieved from memory. It was developed by Atkinson and Shiffrin in 1968 and has since been modified and expanded upon. The model proposes that information enters memory through three different stages: sensory memory, short-term memory, and long-term memory. Each stage is responsible for a different type of information processing, and each stage is associated with its own unique characteristics. This model provides a comprehensive explanation of how memories are formed, stored, and retrieved.
The first stage of the Modal Model of Memory is sensory memory, which is responsible for briefly storing sensory information such as sight, sound, and touch. This stage is very brief, lasting only a fraction of a second, and is designed to help process incoming sensory information quickly and accurately. Any information that is not processed within this time frame is lost and forgotten.
The second stage of the Modal Model of Memory is short-term memory, which is responsible for storing information over a relatively short period of time. This type of memory is typically limited to about seven pieces of information at a time, and is often referred to as “working memory” as it is responsible for the processing of information in the present. Short-term memory is associated with rehearsal, or the act of repeating and rehearsing information in order to maintain it in memory.
The third and final stage of the Modal Model of Memory is long-term memory, which is responsible for storing information over longer periods of time. This type of memory is associated with consolidation, or the act of stabilizing and integrating information into memory. Long-term memory is thought to be unlimited in terms of the amount of information it can store, and it is also thought to be relatively permanent.
Overall, the Modal Model of Memory provides a comprehensive explanation of how information is processed, stored, and retrieved from memory. It offers a framework for understanding the different stages of memory and their associated characteristics. This model has been widely accepted and has been expanded upon by subsequent researchers.
References
Atkinson, R. C., & Shiffrin, R. M. (1968). Human memory: A proposed system and its control processes. In K. W. Spence & J. T. Spence (Eds.), The psychology of learning and motivation: Advances in research and theory (Vol. 2, pp. 89–195). New York, NY: Academic Press.
Baddeley, A. D. (2007). Working memory, thought, and action. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.
Cowan, N. (2005). Working memory capacity. Hove, UK: Psychology Press.
Miller, G. A. (1956). The magical number seven, plus or minus two: Some limits on our capacity for processing information. Psychological Review, 63(2), 81–97.