MEMORY - the working memory model

Question 1

what is the working memory model?

Answer 1

representation of STMS.
there are different types of info using subunits co-ordinated by a central decision making system.

Question 2

what is the central executive?

Answer 2

• co-ordinates the activities of 3 sub systems
• allocates sub-systems tasks
• limited processing capacity
• doesn’t store info

Question 3

what is the phonological loop?

Answer 3

• deal with auditory information
• preserves the order in which information arrives

Question 4

what is the phonological loop divided into?

Answer 4

• phonological store
• articulatory process

Question 5

what is the phonological store?

Answer 5

stores words you hear

Question 6

what is the articulatory process?

Answer 6

allows maintenance rehearsal ( repeating sounds or words)

Question 7

what is the visio-spatial sketchpad?

Answer 7

• processes visual and spatial information
• limited capacity

Question 8

what did Logie (1995) subdivide the VSS into?

Answer 8

visual cache - visual data
inner scribe - arrangement of objects in visual field

Question 9

what is the episodic buffer?

Answer 9

• brings material from other subsystems together
• provides a bridge between working memory and LTM
• limited capacity
• maintains a time sequence

Question 10

What are the STRENGTHS of the WMM?

Answer 10

+ clinical evidence = Warrington case study - KF had poor STM for auditory info but processed visual info normally = supports the existence of a separate visual and acoustic store

+ word length effects support the phonological loop studies that test recall of words. Find Ps can recall more short words than long words = supports the fact that we can hold 2s worth of sound info.

+ support from brain scanning evidence
Braver et al - activity in pre frontal cortex increased as tasks became harder. Demands on the (CE) increase and it works harder. This confirms the location of the executive functions.

+ dual task performance supports the existence of the visio-spatial sketchpad.
eg Baddeley et al (1975) - Ps have more difficulty doing two visual tasks, than a visual and verbal task at the same time.
This shows there must be separate sub systems that processes visual input (in VSS) and one for verbal processing (in the PL)

Question 11

what are the LIMITATIONS of the WMM?

Answer 11

• COUNTERPOINT - it is unclear if KF had cognitive impairments caused by his accident. This challenges evidence that comes from clinical studies.
• validity of the model - it is very hard to measure/ test. All studies are conducted in labs, so cannot be generalised to real world.

-central executive is the least understood but the most important component of the working memory model.