Week 9 Working Memory

Question 1

What is the dual task method?

Answer 1

Used to assess working memory

• Digit Span Task: 0 to 8 digits
  
  • should absorb most of STM capacity
  • particularly for larger versus smaller loads
• Reasoning Task: Indicate whether the statement is True/False
  
  • also requires access to STM

Question 2

What was the prediction of the dual task method?

Answer 2

If memory load absorbs most of STM capacity, then the dual-task performance should be impaired

• shouldnt do well on the reasoning task
  
  • Dual-Task Interference

Question 3

What were the results of the dual task method?

Answer 3

• No effect on reasoning when memory load is small (0-2 digits)
• Reasoning task slightly slowed by memory load (2.8 sec vs. 2.2 sec)
• Error rate low regardless of load

Question 4

What was the conclusion after the dual task method?

Answer 4

Short term store that supports digit span is not the same store that supports reasoning

Question 5

describe the working memory model

Answer 5

Baddeley and Hitch argued that working memory must comprise different components

Question 6

What are the four components of working memory?

Answer 6

• Auditory working memory
• Visual spatial working memory
• Episodic buffer
• Central executive

Question 7

What is another term for the auditory working memory? describe it

Answer 7

Phonological loop

• Processes verbal acoustic information
• Such as when you repeat a phone number or name or new vocabulary terms to yourself mentally
• Maintains acoustic codes

Question 8

What is another term for visual spatial working memory? describe it

Answer 8

Visuospatial sketchpad

• Processes visual and spatial information
• Allows us to temper the store and manipulate images and special information
  
  • as well for my mental maps of the route to some destination

Question 9

Describe the episodic buffer in working memory

Answer 9

• Provides temporary storage space for information from long-term memory and from the phonological loop and or visuospatial subsystems can be integrated, manipulated, and made available for conscious awareness
• Comes into play when your junk information

Question 10

Describe the central executive in working memory

Answer 10

• Control center for working memory
• No storage capacity
• Manipulates the contents of the subsystems and allocates resources
• Most complex and active part of working memory
• Directs the action
• Decides how much attention to allocate mental imagery and auditory rehearsal.
• Call upon information from long-term memory and integrates the input

Question 11

STM is not a ________ storage of information

Answer 11

passive

Question 12

Describe the phonological store

Answer 12

phonological loop can only process speech based info. So auditory info presented it can go directly to phonological whereas visual needs to go through articulacy loop. Going to have to rehears info in inner voice and transfer visual info to acoustic info in order to get into phonological store.

Question 13

What is the evidence for the phonological loop?

Answer 13

• Phonological Similarity
  
  • STM for items that sound similar is poor
    
    • Interferes with rehearsal in articulatory loop
• Word Length Effect
  • Word span is smaller for longer versus shorter words
    
    • More time required to rehearse in articulatory loop
• Articulatory Suppression Effects (aka “yada yada yada”)
  
  • Worse memory when you have to speak out loud!
    
    • Articulatory control NOT available for rehearsal
• Irrelevant Speech Effects
  
  • Hearing background speech impairs phonological loop