Memory - Working memory Model Flashcards
Who proposed the working memory model (WMM)?
The working memory model (WMM) was proposed by Baddeley & Hitch (1974).
What did Baddeley & Hitch criticize about the multi-store model (MSM)?
They criticized the MSM as overly simplistic, particularly regarding short-term memory (STM).
How does the WMM differ from the MSM?
The WMM shows that STM can be sub-divided into distinct components and is not a unitary store.
What type of memories does the WMM explain?
The WMM explains memories related to working on tasks that require immediate memory formation.
What are the four components of the WMM?
The four components of the WMM are: Central executive (CE), Phonological loop (PL), Visuo-spatial sketchpad (VSS), and Episodic buffer (EB).
What is the role of the central executive (CE)?
The CE focuses attention on the most important tasks that need attending to in the current moment.
What does the CE do in relation to the other components?
The CE coordinates the three other components of the WMM by allocating them to different tasks.
What are the ‘slave systems’ in the WMM?
The three components, PL, VSS, and EB, are known as ‘slave systems’.
Does the CE have the capacity to store information?
The CE has limited capacity and cannot store information.
What is the function of the phonological loop (PL)?
The PL is responsible for coordinating auditory information.
How is information coded in the phonological loop?
Coding in the PL is acoustic.
What are the two divisions of the phonological loop?
The two divisions are the phonological store (stores spoken words) and the articulatory process (stores written words).
What is maintenance rehearsal in the context of the PL?
Words are repeated on a loop as part of maintenance rehearsal, although these are not passed onto LTM as in the MSM.
What is the visuo-spatial sketchpad (VSS) responsible for?
The VSS is responsible for storing visual and/or spatial information.
How is information stored in the VSS?
Information is stored temporarily in the VSS.
What are the two components of the VSS?
The two components are the visual cache (stores visual data) and the inner scribe (stores arrangement of objects).
What is the function of the episodic buffer (EB)?
The EB receives information from the CE, PL, and VSS and integrates this information into ‘episodes’.
How does the EB record information?
The EB records information as episodes, so that it is time-sequenced.
Is the EB separate from long-term memory (LTM)?
Yes, the EB is separate from LTM, but it forms an important stage in long-term episodic learning.
What is a strength of the WMM based on the case study of KF?
The case study of KF offers support for the WMM, showing different slave systems for verbal/auditory and visual information.
What did the dual-task performance effect demonstrate?
Participants took longer to answer true/false questions as the number of digits increased, suggesting the CE and PL are used simultaneously.
What is a limitation regarding the central executive?
There is a lack of detail on the role of the CE, making it difficult to operationalise and measure.
What is a limitation of the dual-task performance effect research?
The research relies on highly controlled lab conditions, which lowers the ecological validity.
