Lesson 5 Working Memory Model Flashcards
Working Memory Model
Baddeley and Hitch (1974) questioned the idea promoted by the multi-store model (MSM) of memory that people only have one type of short-term memory (STM). They also argued that STM is far more complex than simply being a temporary store for information before it is transferred to long-term memory (LTM).
They instead saw STM as an active store holding several pieces of information while they are being worked on, that is why they referred to their model as the working memory model (WMM). They argued that LTM is the passive store that only holds previously learned material to be used by STM when needed.
Central Executive
The central executive drives the whole working memory system and allocates data to the other components, known as slave systems. It also deals with cognitive tasks such as decision making, reasoning and problem solving. Individuals have a limited attentional capacity, tasks that are automated make less attentional demands on the central executive and so leave us free to perform other tasks.
A person who has been driving 10 years will find that driving has become an automated task that does not make as many attentional demands as it did when they were learning to drive, and so they can now listen to the radio or talk to passengers much more easily than a learner driver can.
Phonological loop
The phonological loop is the component of working memory that deals with spoken and written material. It has two sub-components.
Two subcomponents of phonological loop
Phonological store and Articulatory loop
Phonological store
The phonological store is sometimes referred to as the inner ear. It is linked to speech perception and holds information in speech-based form (i.e. spoken words) for 1-2 seconds
Articulatory loop
The articulatory loop sometimes referred to as the inner voice. It is linked to speech production and is used to rehearse and store verbal information from the phonological store. This allows for maintenance rehearsal.
Visuo-Spatial Sketchpad
The visuo-spatial sketchpad stores and processes information in a visual or spatial form. It is used for navigation. It is sometimes referred to as the inner eye. It has two sub-components.
Two sub components of Visuo-Spatial Sketchpad
Visual Cache and Inner Scribe
Visual Cache
The visual cache stores visual material about form and colour.
Inner Scribe
The inner scribe handles spatial relationships.
Episodic Buffer
Baddeley (2000) added another component called the episodic buffer because he 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, and the central executive has no storage capacity at all. The episodic buffer is a limited capacity store, integrating information from the central executive, the phonological loop and the visuo-spatial sketchpad, as well as from LTM.
