Memory - WMM Flashcards
Who proposed the working memory model?
Baddeley & Hitch
What is the WMM an explanation of?
How the STM works
What did Baddeley & Hitch propose through the WMM?
- The STM was not a unitary store, but several different stores, which are all connected but work independently as an active processor
-it views memory as active rather than passive im contrast to the MSM
According to the WMM, where does information enter from the environment?
Central executive
How does information enter the central executive?
Enters the environment from our five senses
How does the central executive code?
Modality free
What is the capacity of the central executive?
Very limited
What are the three functions of the central executive
1-will take over new or most demanding task (from the environment)
2-decides what info deserves attention and what should be ignored (attentional process)
3-will delegate relevant tasks to slave systems
Where does the central executive send information to?
Phonological loop and visuo-spatial sketchpad
What is the function of the phonological loop?
Responsible for processing auditory info
Is the phonological loop on the left or right?
Left
What 2 subsections is the phonological loop broken into?
-Articulatory loop
-Phonological store
What is the role of the articulatory loop
Silently repeat words we see and hear
What is the role of the phonological store?
Stores words we hear
How does the phonological loop code?
Acoustically
What is the capacity of the phonological loop?
Limited
Is the visuo-spatial sketchpad on the left or the right?
Right
What is the function of the visuo-spatial Sketchpad?
Responsible for processing visual and spatial info by setting up mental images
What two subsection is the visuo-spatial sketch part split into?
-visual cache
-Inner scribe
What is the function of the visual cache?
Stores visual data (recognition)
What is the function of the inner scribe?
Record object in terms of arrangement in our visual field (awareness)
How does the visuo-spatial sketchpad code?
Visually
What is the capacity of the visuo-spatial sketchpad?
Limited
Which part of the WMM was added later due to criticism?
Episodic buffer
What is the function of the episodic buffer?
Collects and combines info from the phonological loop and visuo-spatial sketchpad to record an event (episode)
How does the episodic buffer code?
Modality free
What is the capacity of the episodic buffer?
Limited (as it is in the STM)
What happens if a person completes two tasks at the same time using the same slave system?
Performance is reduced because they have a limited capacity
What happens if a person completes two tasks at the same time they use different slave systems?
There will be no change as there is no competition for a limited capacity
Evaluate the main points for the WMM
-rts- dual task performance (Baddeley Et al) gave participants two visual tasks to complete at the same time followed by one visual and one verbal task. Participants had more difficulty perform two visual tasks because they are separate slave systems that compete for a limited capacity.
-Opponents argue much of the research is conducted on the PL and the VSS and there’s a lack of clarity over the role of the central executive
Evaluate the not main point for the WMM
-RTS-Shallice & Warrington- patient KF suffered with amnesia. Recall was better when digits were read aloud then when the patient could see the digits himself. Suggest there must be different systems within the STM.
DISCUSSION: case study- low pop val
