Lesson 5: The Working Memory Model

Question 1

Who created the Working memory model (WMM)

Answer 1

Baddely and Hitch (1974)

Question 2

Why was the working memory model created?

Answer 2

They QUESTIONED the idea proposed by the multi store model of memory that -> people only have ONE STM store.

-also argued that STM=more complex than simply being a TEMPORARY store for information before being passed onto the LTM

Question 3

What is the working memory model?

Answer 3

It is a COGNITIVE model of short term memory comprised of FOUR main components:

1) Central executive

2) Visuo-Spatial sketchpad

3) Phonological loop

4) Episodic buffer

Question 4

What is the Central executive?

Answer 4

it DRIVES the whole working memory system and ALLOCATES data to the other components-> known as slave systems

Question 5

What cognitive tasks does the central executive deal with?

Answer 5

-Decision making

-Reasoning

-Problem soving

Question 6

How can automated tasks help the central executive?

Answer 6

Individuals have a limited ATTENTIONAL DEMANDS,

tasks that are AUTOMATED make
less ATTENTIONAL DEMANDS on the central executive leaving us free to perform other tasks.

Question 7

What is the Phonological loop?

Answer 7

The component of working memory that deals with SPOKEN and WRITTEN material.

Question 8

What are the two sub-components of the Phonological loop?

Answer 8

Phonological Store

Articulatory Loop

Question 9

What does the Phonological store do?
(HINT: perception)

Answer 9

It is linked to speech PERCEPTION + holds information in speech-based form (i.e. spoken words) for 1-2 seconds.

Question 10

What does the Articulatory loop do?
(HINT: production)

Answer 10

It is linked to speech PRODUCTION and is used to REHEARSE and STORE verbal information from the phonological store.

This allows for maintenance rehearsal.

Question 11

What is the Visuo-spatial sketchpad?

Answer 11

component of WMM that stores and processes information in a VISUAL or SPATIAL form.

used for navigation

Question 12

What are the two sub components of the visuo-spatial sketchpad?

Answer 12

Visual Cache

Inner Scribe

Question 13

What does the visual cache do?

Answer 13

Stores visual material about FORM and COLOUR

Question 14

What does the Inner scribe do?

Answer 14

Handles spatial relationships

Question 15

What is the name of the fourth store Baddely added in 2000

Answer 15

The episodic buffer

Question 16

Why did he add the episodic buffer?

Answer 16

He realised that the model needed a general storage component to operate properly

Question 17

What is the episodic buffer?

Answer 17

It is a general storage component (with limited capacity) COMBINES information from all the other stores and sends it to LTM