The Working Memory Model

Question 1

What is the working memory model?

Answer 1

A representation of STM that suggests that STM is a dynamic processor of different types of information using subunits co-ordinated by a central decision making system

Question 2

What are the features of the central executive?

Answer 2

• Limited capacity
• Determines how resources are allocated
• Includes reasoning and decision making tasks

Question 3

What are the features of the phonological loop?

Answer 3

• Limited capacity
• Deals with auditory information and preserves word order
• Coding is acoustic
• Divided into phonological store which holds words heard, and articulatory process which holds words heard/seen silently repeated like inner voice

Question 4

What are the features of the visuo-spatial sketch pad?

Answer 4

• Where visual and spatial information is stored
• Limited capacity - 3-4 items
• Subdivided into the visual cache which stores visual data, and the inner scribe which records arrangements of objects in the visual field

Question 5

What are the features of the episodic buffer?

Answer 5

• An extra storage system
• Limited capacity of 3-4 chunks
• Integrates information from all other areas - records events happening

Question 6

What was Baddeley and Hitch’s (1976) study?

Answer 6

• Gave participants 2 tasks to perform at the same time
• Task 1 - true or false task occupied by central executive as it tested verbal reasoning
• Task 2 - performed the same task at same time either repeating ‘the’ (articulatory loop)

Question 7

What were the results and conclusions drawn from Baddeley and Hitch’s study?

Answer 7

Results:
- The true or false task was slower with the 2nd task
Conclusion:
- Difficulty caused when completing 2 tasks involving the same component, which supports the WMM and central executive as it suggests that both tasks compete for some subsystem. Therefore, suggests there must be a separate subsystem that processes visual input (VSS) and one for verbal processing (PL)