Memory: Working Memory Model Flashcards
Explain the Working Memory Model.
Suggests short term memory is not one store but multiple components
- Each components has a different task
- Tasks can be completed simultaneously if they use different components
When was it theorised and by who?
Baddeley and Hitch 1989
What is the Central Executive?
The “control unit”
- Responsible for a range of important control processes
- Coordinates and allocates the activities needed to carry out more than one processing task at a time
- Switches attention between tasks
- Processes all sensory forms
What are the 3 Slave Systems for the Central Executive?
Phonological Loop
Visuospatial Sketchpad
Episodic Buffer
Why does the Central Executive need slave systems?
They can be used as storage systems
- Frees up some of the Central Executive’s capacity to deal with more demanding information processing tasks
When and why was the Episodic Buffer introduced?
In the 2000s after the WMM was criticised for focusing solely on short term memory
What are the two components of the Phonological Loop?
Articulatory Process
Primary Acoustic Store
What is the Articulatory Process?
Maintains words by subvocal repetition
Concerned with speech production
- Limited capacity
- TEMPORARY storage system
What is the Primary Acoustic Store?
Concerned with speech perception
- Limited capacity
- TEMPORARY storage system
What is the Visuospatial Sketchpad?
Specialised for spatial and visual coding
Helps you interact and navigate your physical environment
- Limited capacity
- TEMPORARY memory system
What is the Episodic Buffer?
Used to explain how we temporarily store information COMBINED from the central executive, phonological loop, visuo-spatial sketchpad and long-term memory
Strengths of the Working Memory Model
Limitations of the Working Memory Model
