M: Lesson 5: Working Memory Model

Question 1

Who created Working Memory Model and why?

Answer 1

• Baddeley and Hitch
• Questioned the idea promoted by the MSM of memory that people only have one type of STM. They also argued that STM is far more complex than simply being a temporary memory store for information before it is transferred to LTM.

Question 2

How did Baddeley and Hitch see STM and LTM?

Answer 2

They saw STM as an active store holding several piece of information while they are being worked on. They argued that LTM is the passive store that only holds previously learned material to be used by STM when needed.

Question 3

What are the 4 parts of STM?

Answer 3

Central Executive, Phonological Lop, Visuo-Spatial Sketchpad and Episodic Buffer

Question 3

What are the 4 parts of STM?

Answer 3

Central Executive, Phonological Lop, Visuo-Spatial Sketchpad and Episodic Buffer

Question 4

What is the central executive?

Answer 4

• 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 mental arithmetic, reasoning and problem solving.
• Individuals have a limited attentional capacity, tasks that are automated make less attentional demands on the central executive to leave us free to perform other tasks.
• A person who has been driving for 10 years will find it to be an automated task, that does not require as many attentional demands, so they do other activities such as listen to the radio or talk.

Question 5

What is the Phonological loop?

Answer 5

• The phonological loop is the component of working memory that deals with spoken and written material. It has two sub-components.
• Articulatory Loop
  
  • Sometimes referred to as the inner voice.
  • Linked to speech production and is used to rehearse and store verbal information from the phonological store. This allows for maintenance rehearsal.
• Phonological store
  
  • Sometimes referred to as the inner ear.
  • It is linked to speech perception and holds information in speech based form for 1-2 seconds.

Question 6

What is the Visuo-Spatial Sketchpad?

Answer 6

• It stores and processes information in a visual or spatial form.
• It is used for navigation. It is sometimes referred to as the inner eye
• Visual Cache
  
  • Stores visual material about form and colour
• Inner Scribe
  
  • Handles spatial relationships

Question 7

What is the episodic buffer?

Answer 7

• Baddeley added another component called the episodic buffer because he realised that the model needed a general storage component to operate properly. 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 visuo-spatial sketchpad, as well as from LTM.

Question 8

What is the episodic buffer?

Answer 8

• Baddeley added another component called the episodic buffer because he realised that the model needed a general storage component to operate properly. 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 visuo-spatial sketchpad, as well as from LTM.