There are many models used within psychology to explain how memory works - AQA - A-Level Psychology - Question 4 - 2017 - Paper 1

The multi-store model of memory, proposed by Atkinson and Shiffrin, suggests that memory consists of three distinct stores: sensory memory, short-term memory (STM), and long-term memory (LTM).

1. Sensory Memory: This is the initial stage of memory where sensory information is stored for a very brief period, typically less than a second. It allows individuals to retain impressions of sensory information after the original stimulus has ceased.

2. Short-Term Memory (STM): Information that passes through sensory memory enters STM, where it is held for a limited duration, generally around 15-30 seconds. This store has a limited capacity, often cited as 7±2 items, meaning that individuals can only hold a certain amount of information at once. Rehearsal facilitates the transfer of information from STM to LTM.

3. Long-Term Memory (LTM): Information that is encoded from STM can be stored in LTM for extended periods, potentially for an entire lifetime. LTM has a virtually unlimited capacity and can hold vast amounts of information. This information is organized in a meaningful way, allowing for efficient retrieval.

Overall, the multi-store model emphasizes the flow of information through these discrete stages, with each store serving a different purpose in the memory process.