Memory: The Working Memory Model Flashcards
What is the working memory model
A representation of short term memory. It suggests that STM is a dynamic processor of different types of information using sub units coordinated by a central decision making system.
The Odell consists of four main components
What is the central executive
Coordinates the activities of the 3 slave systems as well as directing the Brains resources to them.
Has very limited capacity
What is the phonological loop
The component of WMM that processes auditory information
(Coding is acoustic)
Preserves the order in which the information arrives
What is the phonological group split into
The phonological store
And the articulatory process
What does the phonological store do ?
Stores words you hear
What is the articulatory process
Allows maintenance rehearsal
Repeating of sounds or words in a loop to keep them in working memory while they are needed
What is the visuospatial sketch pad
Stores and processes visual or spatial information when required
Limited capacity
What is the VSS sub divided into
Visual cache - stores visual data
Inner scribe- records arrangement of objects
What is the episodic buffer
Added by baddeley (2000)
Temporary store of information and brings together material from the other subsystems into a single strand rather than separate strands.
Maintains time sequencing and provides gap between working model and long term memory
What is one strength of the WMM ?
Studies of dual task performance support the WMM.
For example baddeley et al (1975) showed that participants had more difficulty two visual tasks ( tracking light and describing letter F), than doing a visual and verbal task at the same time.
This is because both visual tasks compete for same same slave system whereas doing verbal + visual simultaneously-> no competition
Shows must be a separate slave system that processes visual input
What is another strength of of the WMM (word length)
P) A strength of the WMM comes from evidence for the phonological loop and articulatory process .
E.g.) The PL explains why the word-length effect occurs. People can remember short words better than long words because the PL holds information for approximately two seconds and longer words simply don’t fit in the PL. Furthermore, the word-length effect disappears if a person is given an articulatory suppression task, as participants are unable to rehearse information.
Exp) These findings support the existence of a phonological loop and articulatory process in the WMM.
What is another strength of the working memory model ?(case studies )
There is clinical evidence that can provide support to the WMM.
Eg case of KF who had suffered Brain damage
He had poor stm ability for verbal information but could process visual info normally
Shows that his phonological group had been damaged but other areas were intact,
Supports the existence of separate visual and acoustic stores shown in the model
+ -> evidence from brain damaged patients isn’t reliable or generalisable because they present unique cases with patients that have had traumatic experiences.
What is a limitation of the WMM ( lack of clarity )
There is a lack of clarity over the central executive.
For example Baddeley himself said the central executive is the most important yet least understood component of working memory.
This suggests that the central executive needs to be clearly defined, which as a result shows that the WMM hasn’t been fully explained.
What is another strength of the WMM (brain scanning)
There is support for the WMM from brain scanning.
For example Braver et al (1997) found that there was greater activity in the prefrontal cortex when participants were given a task that involved the central executive while they are having a brain scan.
This activity increased when the task got harder which supports the WMM as the central executive will work harder to fulfil its functioning
