VERBAL-LEARNING AND MEMORY - DOES THE MODAL MODEL STILL WORK

This chapter focuses on recent research concerning verbal learning and memory. A prominent guiding framework for research on this topic over the past three decades has been the modal model of memory, which post ulates distinct sensory, primary, and secondary memory stores. Althoug h this model continues to be popular, it has fostered much debate conc erning its validity and specifically the need for its three separate m emory stores. The chapter reviews research supporting and research con tradicting the modal model, as well as alternative modern frameworks. Extensions of the modal model are discussed, including the search of a ssociative memory model, the perturbation model, precategorical acoust ic store, and permastore. Alternative approaches are discussed includi ng working memory, conceptual shea-term memory, long-term working memo ry, short-term activation and attention, processing streams, the featu re model, distinctiveness, and procedural reinstatement.