6 - The Working Memory Model Flashcards
Why was the working memory model proposed? ( aka what was wrong with the multi store model of memory?)
They didn’t agree that there was only one type of STM
They argued that the STM is more complex than just a temporary store for information before being transferred to the LTM
They saw the STM as an active store holding several pieces of information while they are being worked on.
They saw the LTM as a passive store that only holds previously learned material to be used by the STM when needed.
Who came up with the Working Memory Model?
Baddeley and Hitch
What are the main components of the working memory model?
The central executive
The phonological loop
The Visuo-Spatial Sketchpad
The episodic buffer
What is the function of the central executive?
Drives the whole working memory system and allocates data to other components ( known as slave systems ).
Deals with cognitive tasks such as mental arithmetic, reasoning and problem solving.
When attention needs to be divided, it helps to attain a balance between the tasks.
What does the phonological loop generally deal with? What are its sub - components?
Deals with spoken and written material
Composed of the phonological store and articulary loop
What does the phonological store do?
Referred to as the inner ear
Linked to speech perception and holds informations in a speech - based form for 1-2 seconds
What does the articulary loop do?
Referred to as the inner voice
Linked to speech production and is used to rehearse and store verbal information from the phonological store
What does the visuo-spatial sketch pad do? What are its sub components?
Stores and processes information in a visual or spatial form. It is used for navigation.
Referred to as the inner eye.
Composed of the visual cache and the inner scribe
What does the visual cache do?
Stores visual material about form and colour
What does the inner scribe do?
Handles spatial relationships
Why was the episodic buffer later added?
Baddeley realised that the model needed a general storage component to operate properly.
This is because the slave systems only deal with processing and temporary storage of specific types of information.
What is the function of the episodic buffer?
Limited capacity store, integrating information from the central executive , phonological loop and visuo-spatial sketchpad
