The memory system Flashcards
The memory system & information processing
all information picked up by the senses is stored in the memory
What is the ‘working memory’?
= performs a number of functions
- consists of a central control centre (central executive)
What is the ‘central executive’?
= control centre of the workign memory model
- uses 3 other ‘sub systems’ to control all infromation moving in and out of the memory system
What are the 3 sub systems of the central executive?
1) Phenological loop
2) Visuospatial sketchpad
3) Episodic buffer
Describe the ‘phenological loop’
(PL)
= deals with auditory information from the senses and helps produce the memory trace
What is a memory trace?
= initial mental idea of the skill, whcih can be sent to the long term memory where it can trigger a motor programme
WHat is a motor programme?
= permenant trace stored in the LTM, that contains all the components taht make up a skill
Describe the ‘visuospatial sketchpad’
(VS)
= used to temporarily store visual and spatial information
Divided into 2 areas
- visual cahce: info about form & colour
- inner scribe: spatial & movement info
Describe the ‘episodic buffer’
(EB)
= co-ordinates the sight, hearing and movement infromation from the wokring memory into sequences to be sent to the long-term memory
- coridnates the work of phenological loop and visuospatial sketpad to create a sequence which is sent to the long-term memory
- starting point for a motor programme, and can be used to create movment
Summerise the 3 subsystems of the working memory
Phenological loop = auditory information creates memory trace
Visuospatial sketpatch = temporarily stores visual & patial inforamtion
Episodic buffer = PL + VS = sequence which is sent to the long term memory
Is working memory long or short term?
Short term and temporary
- central executive/phenological loop/visuospatial sketchpad/episodic buffer
Define ‘long term memory’
(LTM)
= recieves information from the working memory, and has unlimited capacity for the storage of motor promgrammes
Describe the process of memory
1) Working memory picks up informtion from the display
2) Selective attention filters out irrelavent information
3) PL and VS produce a memory trace (hearing, sight and spatial info)
4) Memory trace is sent to the LTM
5) LTM compares this memory trace to info already stored within the LTM
6) LTM sends info back to the working memory for use in current sporting action
Summerise working memory and LTM
- working memory sends coded for information to the LTM
- LTM comapares this for future storage/use/decision making
- Work together in a 2 way process.
Features & functions of the working memory
- initiates actions by sending the memory trace
- limited capacity (5-9 items at one time. Too much = overload and important info could be lost)
- Limited time scale (30 seconds until info is used or lost)