The Working Memory Model

Question 1

Who proposed the Working Memory Model (WMM)?

Answer 1

Baddeley and Hitch (1974)

The WMM argues that STM is a dynamic, multi-component system.

Question 2

What is the role of the Central Executive (CE) in the WMM?

Answer 2

• Monitors incoming data
• Makes decisions
• Allocates tasks to slave systems

The CE has a limited capacity of approximately 4 items.

Question 3

What does the Phonological Loop (PL) handle?

Answer 3

Auditory and sound-based information

It is subdivided into the Phonological Store and Articulatory Process.

Question 4

What is the Phonological Store in the PL?

Answer 4

The ‘inner ear,’ storing words you hear

It is part of the Phonological Loop.

Question 5

What is the Articulatory Process in the PL?

Answer 5

The ‘inner voice,’ allowing for maintenance rehearsal

It has a duration of approximately 2 seconds.

Question 6

What does the Visuo-Spatial Sketchpad (VSS) store?

Answer 6

Visual and spatial data

Logie (1995) subdivided it into the Visual Cache and Inner Scribe.

Question 7

What is the capacity of the Visuo-Spatial Sketchpad (VSS)?

Answer 7

About 3–4 objects

It is responsible for handling visual and spatial information.

Question 8

What is the function of the Episodic Buffer?

Answer 8

Integrates information from CE, PL, VSS, and LTM into coherent episodes

Added in 2000, it has a capacity of about 4 chunks.

Question 9

What is an example of Dual-Task Performance in the WMM?

Answer 9

An experienced driver can drive (VSS) and hold a conversation (PL) simultaneously

These tasks use different slave systems.

Question 10

Why does a learner driver struggle with dual-task performance?

Answer 10

Driving demands all the Central Executive’s attentional capacity

This leaves no resources to process instructions from an instructor.

Question 11

What clinical evidence supports the WMM?

Answer 11

The case of Patient KF

He had poor STM for verbal info but normal STM for visual info, supporting the separation of PL and VSS.

Question 12

What did Baddeley et al. (1975) find in their Dual-Task Research?

Answer 12

Participants struggled to perform two visual tasks at once

This provides evidence for the existence of separate slave systems.

Question 13

What is the Word Length Effect?

Answer 13

People find it harder to remember lists of long words than short words

This effect disappears during articulatory suppression, proving the existence of the rehearsal loop.

Question 14

What is a limitation of the Central Executive (CE)?

Answer 14

It is the ‘least understood’ component

Critics argue that simply calling it ‘attention’ is too vague.

Question 15

What did Braver et al. (1997) find regarding the Central Executive?

Answer 15

Activity in the left prefrontal cortex increased as tasks became harder

This supports the idea that the CE works harder as cognitive demands increase.