the working memory model

Question 1

what is the WMM?

Answer 1

a model of memory proposed by baddeley and hitch (1974) to explain research findings that the MSM could not account for, such as dual tasking

Question 2

the central executive

Answer 2

• the boss of the WMM
• controls attention and directs information to each slave system
• can process info from any sensory modality
• has a limited capacity

Question 3

the phonological loop

Answer 3

• a temporary storage system for verbal information
• 2 main components:
  the articulatory control system allows for subvocal repetition of acoustic information. the phonological store is a temporary storage space for coding acoustic info with a limited capacity

Question 4

the visuo spatial sketchpad

Answer 4

• a temporary storage system for visual and spatial information
• 2 main components:
  the inner scribe manipulates mental images and the inner cache has a limited capacity for coding visual and spatial information

Question 5

the episodic buffer

Answer 5

• binds and integrates information from all components, sending the info to ltm
• codes visual and acoustic info
• has a limited capacity

Question 6

give a strength of the WMM
1/2

Answer 6

supported by patient KF, who had a motorcycle accident. afterwards, he could recall stored info from his ltm, but had issues with his stm. he could remember visual images, e.g. faces, but not sounds (acoustic info). this suggests there are at least 2 components within STM, one which is responsible for visual information, and one for acoustic information. KF supports the WMM and the idea of 2 slave systems, the phonological loop and visuo spatial sketchpad, providing support of the WMM and a multi component STM system

Question 7

give a strength of the WMM
2/2

Answer 7

the WMM is supported by baddeley and hitch’s dual task studies, in which participants completed two tasks simultaneously. in one condition, participants completed two acoustic based tasks. in the second they completed one acoustic and one visual based task. when both tasks require participants to use their phonological loop, their ability was limited. however when one task required the phonological loop, and the other required the visuo spatial sketchpad their performance is unaffected. this provides support for multiple components within the STM, and the idea of a separate phonological loop and visuo spatial sketchpad

Question 8

give a limitation of the WMM
1/2

Answer 8

the WMM only focuses on STM, and doesn’t fully explain the link between the WMM and LTM. the model provides a detailed description of out STM but does not describe how info is processed and transferred between STM and LTM. therefore the WMM is an incomplete model of memory, and other theories or models are required to gain a full understanding of memory

Question 9

give a limitation of the WMM
2/2

Answer 9

there is a lack of clarity over the central executive. despite baddeley saying it is the most important component of the system, it it also the least understood.. psychologists suggest that it must be more clearly specified than just ‘attention’, and that as a component it may consist of separate sub components. therefore more research is required to gain a deeper understanding of the central executive and the WMM