The working memory model Flashcards
define working model
representation of short term memory
- suggests that the STM is a dynamic processor of different types of information using subunits co-ordinated by a central decision making system
from Baddeley and Hitch 1974, is an explanation of how one aspect of memory (STM) is organised and how it functions
the WMM is concerned with the ‘mental space’ that is active when we are temporarily storing and manipulating information
for example, when working on an arithmetic problem or playing chess or understanding language
the model consists of four main components , each is qualitatively different especially in terms of coding and capacity
define central executive
the component of the working memory model
it coordinates the activities of the three subsystems in memory
it allocates processing resources to those activities
the CE has the ‘supervisory’ role
it monitors incoming data and focuses and divides our limited attention and allocates subsystems to tasks
CE has very limited processing capacity and does not store information
define phonological loop
component of the WMM that processes info in terms of sound
includes both written and spoken material
it is divided into the phonological store and the articulatory process
one of the subsystems is the phonological loop
deals with auditory information (i.e. coding is acoustic and preserves the order in which information arrives
define visuo-spatial sketchpad
component of the WMM that processes visual and spatial information in a mental space often called our ‘inner eye’
2nd subsystem
it stores visual and / or spatial information when required
e.g. if you were asked to work out how many windows there are on your house, you visualise it
- it has a limited capacity, according to Baddeley 2003, is around 3 or 4 objects
- Logie 1995 subdivided VSS into : visual cache (stores for data) and the inner scribe (records the arrangement of objects in the visual field
define episodic buffer
the component of the WMM that brings together material from the other subsystems into a single memory
rather than separate strands, also provides a bridge between working memory and long term memory
3rd subsystem
added by Baddeley in 2000 to the model
temporary store of info - integrating visual , spatial and verbal information processed by other stores and maintaining a sense of time sequencing - recording events (episodes) that are happening
can be seen as the storage component of the central executive
has limited capacity of about four chunks - Baddeley 2012
episodic buffer links working memory to LTM and wider cognitive processes such as perception
what is the phonological loop subdivided into ?
the phonological stores - which stores the words you hear
the articulatory process - allows maintenance rehearsal - repeating sounds/ words in a ‘loop’ to keep them in a working memory while they are needed
the capacity of this ‘loop’ is believed to be two seconds worth of what you can say
Clinical evidence strength?
research support from Shallice and Warrington 1970 case study of KF
KF had poor STM ability for auditory information but could process visual information normally
his immediate recall of letters and digits were better when he read them - visual - than when they were read to him (acoustic)
KF’s phonological loop was damaged but his visuo-spatial sketchpad was intact
these findings strongly support the existence of separate visual and acoustic memory stores
counterpoint
unclear whether KF has other cognitive impairments , apart from damage to his phonological loop
this may have affected his performance on memory tasks
e.g. his injury was caused by a motor cycle accident - trauma involved may have affected his cognitive performance quite apart from any brain injury
This challenges evidence from clinical studies of people with brain injuries that may have affected many different systems
strength dual task performance?
studies of the dual task support the separate existence of the visuo spatial sketchpad
Baddeley 1975 participants carried out the visual and verbal task at same time (dual task) , performance was similar to when they did it separately
when both tasks were visual or both verbal performance declined a lot
because both visual tasks compete for the same subsystem VSS - whereas there is not competition when performing a verbal and visual task together
what does this show?
there must be a separate subsystem that processes visual input and one for verbal processing , PL
nature of the central executive LIMITATION?
- lack of clarity over the nature of the central executive
- Baddeley 2003 recognises this when he said the ‘central executive’ = most important but least understood component of working memory
the CE needs to be more clearly specified than just being simply ‘attention’
e.g. some psychologists believe the CE may consist of separate subcomponents
this means that the CE is unsatisfactory component and challenges the integrity of the WMM
Validity of the model?
dual task studies support the WMM as two tasks that share a subsystem are much harder to perform together than tasks that involve separate subsystems
so there must be separate components in working memory e.g. VSS and PL
BUT these studies use tasks that are very unlike everyday tasks (identifying correct order of letters etc)
they are also carried out in highly controlled lab conditions 0 where presentation of stimuli is precisely timed
