The Working Memory Model

Question 1

What is The Working Memory Model?

Answer 1

• an explanation of how one aspect of memory (STM) is organised and how it functions
• suggests that STM is a dynamic processor of different types of information using sub-units coordinated by a central decision making system

Question 2

Central Executive

Answer 2

• a supervisory role that monitors incoming data, focuses and divides our limited attention and allocates subsystems to tasks
• It has limited capacity and does not store information

Question 3

Phonological Loop

Answer 3

• deals with auditory informationand preserves the order in which the info arrives
• it is subdivided into 2 stores:

Phonological Store
- stores words you hear

Articulatory Process
- allows maintenance rehearsal - repeat sounds r words in a loop to keep it in the working memory
- Capacity of the loop is 2 seconds

Question 4

Visuo-Spatial Sketchpad

Answer 4

• details with visual/spatial information
• limited capacity
  Subdivided into 2:

Visual Cashe:
- stores visual data

Inner Scribe:
- records the arrangements of objects in the visual field

Question 5

Episodic Buffer

Answer 5

• a temporary store which intergrates the visual, spacial and verbal information processed by other stores and maintaining a sense of time sequencing (recording events that happened)
• can be seen as a storage component of the Central Executive and has limited capacity of 4 chunks
• it links working memory to LTM and other processes such as perception