2.2.1 Working memory model Flashcards
What is the WMM?
The WMM is a response to the over-simplification of short-term memory in the multi-store model. It is a model of short-term memory
What are the components of WMM?
/Central executive
/Phonological loop
/Visuospatial sketchpad
/Episodic buffer
Explain the central executive?
This controls the WMM rather like the ‘boss’ in a business. All information passes to the Central Executive (CE) which then decides which component should process it. The components can only communicate with each other via the CE: they cannot ‘talk’ to each other
Explain the phonological loop?
The phonological loop (PL) holds information in the form of speech/sound. There are two parts to the PL: the phonological store/inner ear which deals with speech perception and the articulatory control process/ inner voice which processes speech production and rehearses verbal information
Explain the visuospatial sketchpad?
The visuospatial sketchpad (VSS) is concerned with visual and spatial information which it organises into separate components. The VSS also known as the inner eye
Explain the episodic buffer?
The EB is a temporary storage device used to integrate information from the VSS and PL. The EB ensures that all the information from the slave systems links together and forms a cohesive whole which makes sense
1st Evaluation point for WMM?
Research support for the WMM
Dual-task studies
Dual-task studies
Baddeley and Hitch (1976) and Robbins et al. (1996): two tasks are possible at the same time if they use different slave systems e.g. the PL and the VSS: attempting two tasks using one slave system overloads that system
The case study of brain-damaged patient KF (Shallice & Warrington, 1970)
2nd Evaluation point for WMM?
Strengths:
It extends on the work of the MSM and explains the complexity of STM with the tasks it can perform
Research on dual tasks (Baddeley 1973) supports the idea of separate components and how they can be overloaded
3rd Evaluation point for WMM?
Limitations:
The WMM is vague on the link between STM and LTM
It is difficult to measure the CE which means that not much is actually known about it (although this may well change as more research is conducted on it)
