Memory -> Working Memory Model Flashcards
The Working Memory Model
Baddeley and Hitch 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 argued that LTM is the passive store that only holds previously learned material to be used by STM when needed.
The Central Executive
Allocates data to the slave systems.
Deals with cognitive tasks such as decision making, reasoning and problem solving.
The Phonological Loop
The phonological loop is the component of working memory that deals with spoken and written material. It has two sub-components;
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
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.
The Visuo-Spatial Sketchpad
The visuo-spatial sketchpad stores & processes information in a visual/spatial form. It is sometimes referred to as the inner eye. It has two subcomponents;
Visual Cache:
The visual cache stores visual material about form and colour.
Inner Scribe:
The inner scribe handles spatial relationships.
The Episodic Buffer
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.
Strengths of the WMM
KF had poor STM for verbal but not visual words
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Dual reasoning tasks
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Practical applications
Weaknesses of the WMM
The central executive is vague & untestable
EVR had good reasoning skills but could not make decisions
