Working Memory Model

Question 1

What are the four main components of the Working Memory Model?

Answer 1

• Central executive
• Phonological loop
• Visuo-spatial sketchpad
• Episodic buffer

The model was developed by Alan Baddeley and Graham Hitch and disputes the unitary store claim of Atkinson and Shiffrin.

Question 2

True or false: The Working Memory Model suggests that short-term memory is a unitary store.

Answer 2

FALSE

The model proposes that short-term memory consists of separate components that process different types of information.

Question 3

What does the central executive in the Working Memory Model do?

Answer 3

It oversees and coordinates the activities of the other components

It plays a crucial role in attention and decision-making.

Question 4

Fill in the blank: The phonological loop is made up of the _______ and the _______.

Answer 4

articulatory loop, phonological store

These components help in processing and storing verbal information.

Question 5

What is the role of the visuo-spatial sketchpad in the Working Memory Model?

Answer 5

It processes and stores visual and spatial information

It is often referred to as the scratchpad for visual data.

Question 6

What is the episodic buffer in the Working Memory Model responsible for?

Answer 6

It integrates information from the phonological loop, visuo-spatial sketchpad, and long-term memory

This component helps in forming a coherent episode from different types of information.

Question 7

List the features of working memory as proposed by Baddeley and Hitch.

Answer 7

• STM is not unitary
• Separate components process different information
• Different memory codes for each component
• Limited storage capacity

These features highlight the complexity of working memory compared to traditional views.

Question 8

What is the role of the Central Executive in the working memory model?

Answer 8

Organiser of STM, attends incoming information, stores temporarily, decides what to send to slave systems

It has a limited capacity and can process information from any mode but can only deal with one type of information at a time.

Question 9

What are the functions of the Central Executive?

Answer 9

• Calling up information from LTM
• Merging information from slave systems and LTM
• Involved in decision making

It plays a crucial role in correcting answers to questions.

Question 10

What type of information does the Phonological Loop (PL) deal with?

Answer 10

Auditory information, preserves order of arrival

Active during verbal tasks such as learning/repeating words.

Question 11

What are the two sub-divisions of the Phonological Loop (PL)?

Answer 11

• Phonological store
• Articulatory loop

The phonological store stores heard words, while the articulatory loop allows maintenance rehearsal.

Question 12

What is the capacity of the articulatory loop?

Answer 12

Believed to be two seconds’ worth of what you can say

It helps keep words or sounds in working memory through repetition.

Question 13

What does the Visuo-spatial Sketchpad (VSS) store and manipulate?

Answer 13

Visual and spatial information

Involved in pattern recognition and perception of movement.

Question 14

What are the two sub-divisions of the Visuo-spatial Sketchpad (VSS)?

Answer 14

• Visual cache
• Inner scribe

The visual cache stores visual data, while the inner scribe records the arrangement of objects.

Question 15

What is the function of the Episodic Buffer?

Answer 15

Acts as a temporary ‘backup’ store, integrates and manipulates material from other components

It processes information requiring two different senses at the same time.

Question 16

What is one important function of the Episodic Buffer?

Answer 16

Recalls material from LTM and integrates it into components of STM

Essential for working memory when it requires information from long-term memory.

Question 17

True or false: The Visuo-spatial Sketchpad (VSS) has an unlimited capacity.

Answer 17

FALSE

The VSS has a limited capacity of about three or four objects.

Question 18

What does dual task performance refer to in the context of WMM?

Answer 18

A research procedure where an individual performs two tasks simultaneously

If participants are slower at doing both tasks together than separately, it suggests competition for brain resources.

Question 19

In dual task performance, what happens when tasks compete for the same resources?

Answer 19

Participants perform slower on both tasks

This indicates that the tasks are using the same cognitive resources.

Question 20

Give an example of two tasks that can be performed well simultaneously.

Answer 20

• Listening to music
• Painting

These tasks do not compete for the same cognitive resources.

Question 21

What happens when reading out loud and writing a letter are performed simultaneously?

Answer 21

Leads to reduced performance on each task

This indicates competition for cognitive resources.

Question 22

What was the aim of Baddeley et al (1973) in their study supporting the WMM?

Answer 22

To test whether STM has separate components as the WMM claims

This study used dual task performance to investigate the components.

Question 23

Describe the method used in Condition 1 of Baddeley et al’s study.

Answer 23

Participants performed a tracking task while describing the letter F

Both tasks used the Visuo-Spatial Sketchpad (VSS).

Question 24

What were the results of Condition 1 in Baddeley et al’s study?

Answer 24

Participants found it very difficult to track the spot of light and describe the letter F

This indicates competition for the limited storage of the VSS.

Question 25

What was the **method** used in Condition 2 of Baddeley et al's study?

Answer 25

Participants performed the tracking task and a verbal task simultaneously ## Footnote The tracking task used the VSS and the verbal task used the Phonological Loop (PL).

Question 26

What were the **results** of Condition 2 in Baddeley et al's study?

Answer 26

Participants were much more capable of carrying out both tasks ## Footnote This suggests that the visual and verbal tasks do not compete for the same cognitive resources.

Question 27

What was the **conclusion** drawn from Baddeley et al's study regarding the WMM?

Answer 27

Visual tasks compete for limited storage in the VSS, while visual and verbal tasks can be done well together ## Footnote This supports the idea of separate components in STM.

Question 28

Strength of WMM supported by research from Baddeley?

Answer 28

-using dual task technique -found participants could successfully track spot of light (use VSS) and complete a verbal task at same time (use PL) , participants were less successful when asked to track spot of light and imagine letter F (both tasks use VSS) -valid explanation of memory since supports claim STM is not unitary but consists of separate components and have limited capacity -WMM some degree of validity -low ecological validity

Question 29

Strength of WMM supported by case study of KF?

Answer 29

-supported by case study of KF -KF suffered brain damage after stroke following motorcycle accident that affected his STM, poor STM ability for auditory info but could process visual info normally, his immediate recall of letters and digits was better when he read them than when they were read to him -phonological loop been damaged but VSS was intact -valid explanation of memory since it supports the existence of separate visual and acoustic stores as model suggests -lacks population validity since brain damaged patients may not be reliable since it concerns unique cases with patients who have had traumatic experiences

Question 30

Limitation of STM is difficult to study?

Answer 30

-STM difficult to study -has limited duration of up to 30 secs, difficult to devise an experimental method that works quickly enough, participants given an artificial test so low ecological validity -any evidence that does support the WMM is weak evidence

Question 31

Limitation of WMM is it fails to take listening to music into account?

Answer 31

-model would suggest that listening to instrumental music should impair performance on other acoustic tasks (uses both PL) yet doesn’t seem to be the case -current model is not complete and fully developed -all claims of WMM may not be accurate and valid