The Nature of Memory - Working memory model Flashcards
what are the components of the working memory model
- central executive
- phonological loop
- visuospatial sketchpad
- episodic buffer
how is the phonological loop coded
acoustically
what is the capacity of the phonological loop
2 seconds
worth of infomation you can say
decribe the phonological loop
- It preserves the order in which information arrives.
- it is subdivided into;
→ the phonological store
→ articulatory process
describe the task of the phonological store
it stores the words you hear
describe the task of the articulatory process
allows for maintinance rehearsal
how is the visuo-spacial sketchpad coded
visually
what is the capacity of the visuo-spacial sketchpad
3-4 objects
describe the visuo-spacial sketchpad
It is sub-divided into:
- visual cashe
- inner scribe
describe the task of the visual cashe
it stores the visual information
describe the task of the inner scribe
it records the arrangement of objects in the visual field
describe the wmm
it is a representation of short term memory. it suggests that STM is a dynamic processor of different types of information using sub-units coordinated by a central decision-making system
describe the central executive
- It is the component of the wmm that coordinates the activities of the 3 sub-systems and allocates resources to those activities.
- It is an attentional system that monitors data and makes decisions
how is the central executive coded
it can process any type of information
what is the capacity of the central exective
it has a very limited processing capacity
what is the capacity of the episodic buffer
4 chunks of information
how is the episodic buffer coded
it can process any type of information
describe the episodic buffer
It is the component that brings together material from the other sub-systems into a single memory.
It is the bridge between the working memory and the long-term memory
describe a piece of research into the wmm
Eyesenck and Keane (1995)
Aim: To investigate whether there are several components within the working memory model.
Method- participants were asked to remember 8 words in 15 seconds
task 1 - participants were then given 15 seconds retention time and then were asked to recall the words
task 2 - participants were then told to say tick tock out loud and were then asked to recall them
task 3- participants were then told to draw a picture of their house , then asked to recall
group 1, group 2, group 3
what were the results of Eysenck and Keane (1995)
- the best performance was in task 1 , the phonological loop was used to retain the words.
- The worst performance was in task 2 because the participants repeating the words tick tock meant that the phonological loop was being used to complete the task as well as to refresh and retain the 8 words.
- Completing task 3 and drawing the house should not have affected the recall of words because it was using the visuo spatial sketch pad , which is a different loop
what was the conclusion of Eysenck and Keane 1995
this is evidence that there are different components in short term memory , supporting Baddeley and Hitch working memory model
evaluate Eysenck and Keane 1995
(S+W)
- A strength is that is has a control group to compare
- a weakness is that it lacks ecological validity
identify a weakness of the wmm
|2 points
- it is not a complete model - doesnt account for musical memory - participants can listen to acoustical music without impairing performace on other acoustic tasks
- there is a lack of clarity over the central executive
