Final answer:
The multi-store model of memory, or Atkinson-Shiffrin model, posits that memory is processed through three stages: Sensory Memory, Short-Term Memory, and Long-Term Memory, similar to how a computer processes information. This lays the groundwork for understanding how we encode, store, and retrieve memories.
Step-by-step explanation:
The multi-store model of memory, also known as the Atkinson-Shiffrin model, is based on the concept that memory involves a sequence of three stages: Sensory Memory, Short-Term Memory (STM), and Long-Term Memory (LTM). These stages reflect the process of encoding, storing, and retrieving information. According to Atkinson and Shiffrin, sensory input enters the sensory memory, which holds information for a very brief period. Notable stimuli then move to short-term memory, where information is either forgotten or further processed through rehearsal, which then leads to storage in long-term memory for permanent retention. Other theorists, like Baddeley and Hitch, have expanded on this model with the concept of working memory, which introduces components like the visuospatial sketchpad, phonological loop, and episodic buffer, overseen by a central executive.