4) Working Memory Model

Question 1

Who designed the WMM

Answer 1

Baddeley and Hitch

Question 2

All parts of the WMM

Answer 2

Episodic Buffer
Central Executive
Visuo-spatial sketchpad
LTM
Phonological loop

Question 3

What is the Episodic Buffer

Answer 3

Temporary Store for for information

Question 4

What does the Central Executive do

Answer 4

Has a supervisory role, monitors incoming data and directs attention
- Very limited storage capacity

Question 5

What does the Visuo-Spatial Sketchpad do

Answer 5

Stores visual and spatial data
- Visual cache : Stores visual data
- Inner scribe : records arrangement of objects

Question 6

What is the Phonological Loop

Answer 6

Processes auditory information, preserves order
- Phonological store (words you hear)
- Articulatory process (allows maintenance rehearsal, keeping them in WM while needed

Question 7

EV of WMM - support from clinical evidence

Answer 7

• Shallice and Warrington studied KF
• His STM for auditory info was poor (damaged PL) but could process visual information normally (intact VSS)
• Supports WMM view that there are separate visual and acoustic memory stores

Question 8

EV of WMM - dual task performance supports VSS

Answer 8

• Baddeley et als participants found it harder to carry out 2 visual tasks at the same time than a verbal and visual task
• Both visual tasks compete for the same subsystem, no competition with verbal and visual
• must be separate systems that process visual and verbal processes

Question 9

EV of WMM - lack of clarity over central executive

Answer 9

• Baddley said CE was the most important but the least understood component
• There must be more to CE than being ‘attention’
• CE is unsatisfactory component and challenged the integrity of the model