The Working Memory Model

Question 1

what is the WMM

Answer 1

a representation of STM→ suggests is a dynamic processor of diff type of info using sub unit coordinated by the central decision making system

Question 2

who suggested the WMM (2)

Answer 2

baddeley and hitch

Question 3

what are components within WMM (4)

Answer 3

multi-component system which includes the central executive, visuospatial sketchpad, phonological loop, and episodic buffer.

Question 4

what do they believe the WM is important for (3)

Answer 4

reasoning, learning and comprehension.

Question 5

What do WM theories assume

Answer 5

complex reasoning and learning tasks require a mental workspace to hold and manipulate information.

Question 6

compare WMM and STM in MSM model

Answer 6

According to the[Multi-Store Model], STM holds limited amounts of information for short periods of time with relatively little processing.It is a unitary system. This means it is a single system (or store) without any subsystems.Whereas working memory is a multi-component system (auditory, and visual).

Question 7

what was the main criticism for STM in MSM (2)`

Answer 7

too simplistic→ STM is more complex than just a temporary store to transfer info to LTM

Question 8

draw the WMM

Answer 8

Look on the internet or notion

Question 9

what is the CE (4)

Answer 9

central executive

- Drives the whole system (e.g., the boss of working memory) and allocates data to the subsystems: the phonological loop and the visuospatial sketchpad⇒ processes info in all sensory forms→ directs info to models slave system & collects responses
- deals with cognitive tasks such as mental arithmetic and problem-solving
- acts as filter to determine which info received by sense organ is & isn't attended to
- limited capacity→ can only hold 4 items ⇒ therefore selectively attends to particular info, attaining a balance between tasks when attention needs to be divided between them

Question 10

what was the metaphor given to explain CE

Answer 10

metaphor of a company boss to describe the way in which the central executive operates. The company boss makes decisions about which issues deserve attention and which should be ignored. They also select strategies for dealing with problems, but like any person in the company, the boss can only do a limited number of things at the same time. The boss of a company will collect information from a number of different sources.

Question 11

research supporting CE (2)`

Answer 11

• baddeley:duel task performancediscovered ppl found difficult to generate list of random numbers while simultaneously switching between pressing numbers and letters on key boardsupports idea of limited capacity & only being able to cope with on type of info at a time
  • found 2 brain parts active using fMRI
  prefrontal cortex was activated when verbal and spatial tasks performed simultaneously but not when used separatelysuggest brain area to be associated with working of CE

Question 12

what can the CE best described as

Answer 12

better understood a component controlling the focus of attention rather than a memory store

Question 13

What is the PL (4)

Answer 13

phonological loop

- component that deals with auditory info: spoken and written material.
- subdivided into the phonological store (which holds information in a speech-based form) and the articulatory process (which allows us to repeat verbal information in a loop).
- limited capacity
- mainly acoustic store→ confusion occurs with similar sounds

Question 14

what two stores was the PL divided into

Answer 14

• acoustic/phonological store= inner ear⇒ stores info we hear for 1-2 secs
  
  • articulatory process= inner voice⇒ processes speech production, and rehearses and stores verbal information from the phonological store.

Question 15

research supporting PL

Answer 15

• PET scansshow diff brain areas activated when doing verbal & visual tasks⇒ VSS & PL are diff⇒ reflected in bio of brain

Question 16

what is the VSS (4)

Answer 16

visual spatial sketchpad

- component which stores and processes information in a visual or spatial form.
- used for navigation around and interaction with physical environment→ position in relation to objects is constantly changing and it is important that we can update this information
- info coded & rehearsed though use of mental picture
- displays and manipulates visual and spatial information held in long-term memory→ eg what your house looks like

Question 17

what are the two components of the VSS

Answer 17

• visual catche= visual material (eg colour)

- inner scribe= arrangement of objects in visual field

Question 18

research supporting VSS (3)

Answer 18

• baddeleyDuel task performanceppl found difficult to simultaneously track light and describe angles in letter Fboth use VSSHowever when asked participants to simultaneously follow bright yellow light and verbal recall⇒ +ve findingsVSS and PL
  • liebmann
  blind ppl have great spatial awareness although don’t have VSSvisual & spatial should be separated
  • KF
  brain damage from a motorcycle accident that damaged his short-term memoryimpairment was mainly for verbal information - his memory for visual information was largely unaffected.separate STM components for visual information (VSS) and verbal information (phonological loop).

Question 19

what is the EB (3)

Answer 19

episodic buffer

- added as 3rd slave system by baddeley later
- temporary store a brings together material from other sub stores into single memory rather than separate strands
- provides bridge between LTM & WMM

Question 20

evaluate -ves of the WMM (3 + a study)

Answer 20

• little direct evidence for how the central executive works and what it does.⇒ capacity of the central executive has never been measured.=
  
  • &Evidence suggest CE may not be single element
    
    • Eslinger et al had patient who had cerebral tumour removed
    • Performed well on reasoning tasks = CE functional
    • Struggled with poor decision making skills = elements of CE damaged
    • Suggests other components in CE which WMM unable to explain ∵ over-simplified
• problem with using brain damaged patients=> can’t make ‘before and after’ comparison= unclear whether changes in behaviour are caused by damage

Question 21

evaluate +ves of WMM (4)

Answer 21

• brain scans
  
  • clinical evidence
  • dual task performance→ letter angles & tracking light
  • explains a lot more than the multistore model. It makes sense of a range of tasks - verbal reasoning, comprehension, reading, problem-solving and visual and spatial processing. And the model is supported by considerable experimental evidence.