Objections

=**__ Objections __**= There are researchers in the field of cognitive psychology that feel that it is improbable that we will ever be able to fully understand the function of long-term memory. These researchers feel that the topic of long-term memory storage in our brains poses a problem that will not easily be solved. However, these claims are unfounded and seem unreasonable. Every year that passes there are new research projects that bring forth novel findings in the field of cognitive neuroscience. Many neuroscientists today are working to gain a better understanding of long-term memory on a molecular level (Brain Preservation Foundation, 2012).

Another study in long-term memory that has faced criticisms is the Atkinson-Shiffrin model. One argument is that sensory information should be stored in a “memory system” instead of the “sensory store” system that is displayed in the model. People feel that the model would be simpler to understand and generally more accurateif it were labeled this way. Another objection is that there is no “in-between” storage space to represent thoughts or memories that fall outside of the short-term and long-term memory. There is evidence that suggests that information can exist somewhere outside the long-term memory or short-term memory storage. These thoughts and memories can also be activated. The next objection presented is that the model simplifies the systems into only a singular short-term memory system and a singular long-term memory system. In reality there are a number of memory systems that exist in our brains to operate for different senses, such as vision or language. A final objection argues that the Atkinson-Shiffrin model does not discuss the importance of the unconscious or implicit processes that occur in our brains. Researchers are aware today that both the conscious and the unconscious processes play an important role in our memory production and consolidation. Despite its limitations, the Atkinson-Shiffrin model is a key finding for helping researchers to better understand the characteristics of short-term memories and long-term memories storage sites (Dewey, 2007).

Endel Tulving also faced objections in his findings on implicit and explicit memory. During the time of the 1980s and 1990s this was a heated topic for debate. Tulving felt that implicit memory and explicit memory occurred in different systems of the brain. He received criticisms on this belief from others who believed that implicit and explicit memory may occur in the same brain system, but may be reflected by different psychological processes. Researchers today have found that valuable information can be taken from both of these views (Tulving, 1985).


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Welcome History & Key Findings Important Contributors Objections References