As background, working memory occurs within a cycle. Memories begin by being encoded, then stored then finally retrieved. Encoding is the processing of information into the memory system, for example, by extracting meaning. The new information is then moved into storage. Storage is the information being placed in long term storage. Memories are also stored with a semantic process. This means that a memory is stored according to what other experiences and what the experience means to the specific person. This system is very personal as everyone experiences different things and believes different opinions. Lastly there is retrieval, which is the process of getting information out of memory storage. Retrieval from short term memory is that chunks of information are recorded in the way they were presented, like a pattern. Whereas retrieval from long term memory is more by relating information you are processing to a
previous memory in long term memory.
One main theory is the multi store model, by Atkinson and Shiffrin (968). They suggested that memory was made up of three parts: sensory memory, short term memory and long term memory. If the memory is repeated then it enters into the long term memory storage. If the memory is not repeated it is forgotten or lost to decay or displacement. The strengths of this model is that it is a reductionist approach which makes it very easy to follow and allows it to be built upon. The theory is significant and has inspired lots of research on the storage of memory. However the reductionist approach also means the model could be over simplified. The process of short term memory to long term memory might be too broad, the transfer or memory could be due to more than just repetition. Research has already shown that there are many different types of long term memory, such as episodic memory.