Sensory Memory & Attention: Early Stages in Information Processing

The Human Information Processing Model

based on Atkinson & Shiffrin (1968)

Theoretical Background

The most influential model of human cognition during the past 25 years has been the Human Information Processing (HIP) model. Essentially, the HIP model views cognition as something that occurs in stages, and occurs sequentially. Each HIP stage has its own characteristics and limitations.

You are probably familiar with this model, at least superficially. The HIP model derives primarily from the work of Atkinson and Shiffrin (1968). The Atkinson and Shiffrin model of memory postulates three separate and distinct processing stages. The basic outline of the model is shown above.

For much of the lab portion of the course, we are going to “work our way through” the stages. After a first lab designed to introduce you to the experimental design methods we’ll use, the remainder of the lab will consist of three parts: The first focusing on sensory memory and attention, the second on short-term memory, and the last on long-term memory.