PAPER 1 - MEMORY - working memory model

Question 1

what is the function of central executive?

Answer 1

monitors and coordinates mental functions in the working memory, involved in planning, reasoning and decision-making

Question 2

what are the key features of the central executive?

Answer 2

• no storage/capacity for storing data
• limited attention capacity - cannot attend to many things at once

Question 3

what is the function of the phonological loop?

Answer 3

• deals with auditory information and preserves the order of information
• holds acousitc information according to tone, volume and pitch

Question 4

what are the key features of the phonological loop?

Answer 4

• limited capacity
• holds what you hear - inner ear
• articulatory process processes words you see or hear and are repeated (maintenance rehearsal) - inner voice

Question 5

what is the function of the episodic buffer?

Answer 5

• general store
• no storage or capacity
• integrates info from CE, PL and VSS & sends info to LTM
• maintains timing of events

Question 6

what are the key features of the episodic buffer?

Answer 6

• extra system that has limited capacity
• maintains sense of sequencing

Question 7

what is the coding for the phonological loop?

Answer 7

codes speech sounds

Question 8

what is the duration of the phonological loop?

Answer 8

1.5-2 seconds

Question 9

what is the working memory model?

Answer 9

• essentially what you’re thinking right now
• more accurate representation of STM
• also with active processing and short-term storage
• not a single store, made up of several components

Question 10

what does the working memory model look like?

Answer 10

• CE goes to VSS / EB / PL
• VSS / EB / PL goes to LTM

Question 11

is the working memory model unitary?

Answer 11

no - its non unitary (multiple different stores)

Question 12

who proposed the WMM?

Answer 12

baddeley and hitch

Question 13

what are 2 strengths of the WMM?

Answer 13

• dual task performance - supported existence of central executive
• evidence from brain damaged patients - KF short term forgetting of auditory information was greater than visual stimuli, restricted to phonological loop

Question 14

what are 2 weaknesses of the WMM?

Answer 14

• CE is not fully understood, EVR case study performed well on tasks for reasoning, but poor decision making skills, CE is non unitary (opposes WMM)
• key studies of WMM are from brain damaged patients: process of brain injury is traumatic (may change behaviour), individuals may already have other difficulties and therefore underperform

Question 15

what is the WMM concerned with?

Answer 15

active processing and short term storage of information