Cognitive Psychology Flashcards
What is the Working Memory Model (WMM) Baddeley and Hitch (1974) ?
It is an active model that splits the STM into different components and explains how we store and process information that is being used
- phonological loop (PL)
- visuo spatial sketchpad (VSS)
- central executive (CE)
What is the Phonological loop (PL) component of WMM?
it stores information on sound and speech and is split into two parts
- articulatory loop = acts as the inner voice for rehearsing
- primary acoustic store = inner ear, sound goes directly into this store.
duration = 15-30 seconds
What is the Visuo Spatial Sketchpad (VSS) component of WMM?
it stores visual and spatial info, it acts as our inner eye
- what we see
- where it is located
duration is a few seconds
What is the Central Executive (CE) component of WMM?
controls what is processed by the PL and VSS and the flow information, also does problem solving rather than acting as an information storage system
- can help the PL and VSS but it has a limited capacity
This means it allocates the cognitive memory tasks to the appropriate subsystems
What is the Episodic Buffer component of WMM?
Baddeley (2000) introduced this into the WMM as an addition (giving idea that the WMM was incomplete)
- it facilitates communication btw the CE and LTM
What were the findings of Robbins et al. (1996) dual task paradigm study?
ppts had to complete different task while playing chess e.g. tapping on the table
- only tasks that used different WMM components to the ones being used to play chess (CE + VSS) could occur
- supporting the claim that VSS and PL are separate stores
Multi tasking can only occur when the tasks use different wmm stores
What are the strengths of the WMM?
Evidence to support it
Robbins et al. (1996) = dual task paradigm study supports claim that VSS and PL are seperate
claims of the WMM are consistent with evidence from biopsychology,
- Shallice and Warrington (1974) KF = KF had impaired STM for digits but a normal STM for non meaningful speech sounds
- Ma et al. (2002) = Used fMRI to look at how brain activity differed due to the type of task
What are the weaknesses of the WMM?
- it is difficult to test the existence of the CE individually without affecting VSS or PL
- Baddeley (2000) = introduced episodic buffer into the WMM giving idea that the WMM was incomplete
- Damasio (1994) = WMM doesn’t consider emotional/mtotivational factors
What is the Multi Store Model (MSM) Attkinson and Shiffrin (1968) ?
theory that info comes from our environment through our senses, it is briefly stored in the sensory store (SS) for less than a second. If information is attended to it moves to the short term memory store (STM). If it is rehearsed it is encoded into the long term memory store (LTM). IF it is not rehearsed it is lost from the STM through displacement and decay. If memories aren’t retrieved from the LTM it decays.
What does capacity mean?
size of the store, how much info it can hold
What does duration mean?
the length of time info can remain in that store
What does mode of representation mean?
the mode of storage
Describe the Sensory Store (SS)?
- info from here that is attended, moves to STM
- if it is not attended too it is lost
- duration = 1/2 to 2 seconds
- mode of representation = info is stored in the same format that it is received (modality specific)
- several SS
Describe the Short Term Memory store (STM)?
- info that is rehearsed here (repeated back) passes into LTM
- info that isn’t rehearsed is lost by displacement or decay
- holds info we are currently using
- capacity = holds 7 bits at a time
- duration = holds info for up to 30 seconds
- mode of representation = auditory form
Describe the Long Term Memory store (LTM)?
- info is retieved from the LTM and moves into the STM when we recall memories
- info that isn’t retrieved often = retrieval failure and is lost through decay
- capacity = finite
- duration = is at least a lifetime
- mode of representation = info is stored in semantic form
What are the claims of the MSM?
- STM and LTM are seperate stores
- STM and LTM are unitary
- STM has a limited capacity
- Rehearsal is necessary to retain info in the STM
- Rehearsal is necessary to retain info in the LTM
- STM processes acoustically and LTM processes semantically
What are the strengths of the MSM?
evidencet to support claims
GLANZER + CUNITZ (1968)
- evidence for the claim that STM + LTM are seperate
using a lab word list recall study, primarcy effect in LTM and recency effect in STM
RUNDUS (1971)
- evidence for rehearsal process to encode info into LTM
found that the more times a word was repeated (rehearsed) more likely it was be recalled
What are the weaknesses of the MSM?
evidence against
MSM oversimplifies structure of STM + LTM
supports claim that LTM has more than one store
MILNER ET AL. (1968)
- HM case study, procedural skills could still be learnt but semantic memories could be recalled
supports claim that STM has more than one store
SHALLICE + WARRINGTON (1970)
-KF case study is evidence for the above claim
TULVING (1972) EPISODIC LTM THEORY
- LTM has further stores episodic, semantic, procedural
BADDELEY + HITCH (1972) WMM
- WMM dvelopment of STM stores
What is the primacy effect?
Info learned first is well remembered as it has been rehearsed and copied into LTM
What is the recency effect?
info learned last is well remembered because it is still in STM and can be immediately recalled
What is dyslexia?
- learning difficulty
- normally affects reading
- it is uncommon but not rare
HULME + SNOWING (2009) found 8% of school children in English speaking countries have dyslexic tendencies
How can the WMM (Baddeley and Hitch 1974) be used to explain dyslexia?
Reading requires us to:
- register letters on a page using the VSS
- translate and store letter as sounds using the PL
- sounds are converted to words and then into phrases in the PL
- links btw words and their meanings are made in the LTM
- episodic buffer helps with following a text