The Working Memory Model Flashcards
What is the WMM?
A model of STM detailing how it’s organised and functions. It suggests it is an active store, and that it consists of 3 slave systems.
What is the Central Executive?
An attentional system that monitors incoming information, filters it and allocates tasks to the 3 slave systems, overseeing their activity
What are the 3 Slave Systems of The WMM?
- The Visual-Spatial Sketchpad
- The Phonological Loop
- The Episodic Buffer
What is the role of the Visual-Spatial Sketchpad?
It processes and stores visual and spatial information, and is used to visualise
What is the role of The Phonological Loop?
It is a sound-based store that processes auditory information. It is subdivided into two parts
What is role of the Episodic Buffer?
It integrates the information processed by the other stores into one singular memory, instead of separate strands
What case study supports the idea of there being separate stores of STM?
KF, as his Phonological Loop appeared to be damaged, but his VSS intact
What is the capacity of the Central Executive, and how does this affect it?
It has a very limited capacity, and so doesn’t store information itself, but rather assigns it to the three slave systems
What is the Phonological Loop subdivided into?
- The Phonological Store
- The Articulatory Process
What is the role of the Phonological Store?
It stores sound-based information, such as speech
What is the role of the Articulatory Process?
It allows for maintenance rehearsal (the internal repetition of words in a loop)
What does the Episodic Buffer act as a bridge between, and how does this affect it?
STM and LTM, meaning it is a timestamped, temporary store
How many features of the WMM are there?
4
What is the capacity of the WMM?
Limited
Who proposed the WMM?
Baddeley & Hitch
How is the VSS encoded?
In a visual and spatial form
How is the Phonological Loop encoded?
In an auditory form
Which scientific method supports the idea that there are different STM stores, as according to the WMM?
Brain scans
Which studies support the idea that there are different STM stores and why?
- Baddeley’s studies of dual-task performance
- They demonstrate that it is far more difficult to perform two tasks simultaneously that share a system (e.g. texting and talking), than two that don’t (e.g. looking at photos and talking)
Why has the Central Executive been criticised for not being a satisfactory component of the model?
It isn’t fully understood and little is known about it, with it being vaguely defined as an ‘attentional system’
Why can supporting studies of dual-task performance be criticised?
For their use of meaningless, artificial materials and situations, meaning they lack mundane realism and have low ecological validity, as they don’t reflect how STM is engaged in everyday life
What is the capacity of the Phonological Loop?
2 seconds worth of auditory information
What is the capacity of the Visual-Spatial Sketchpad?
Approximately 3-4 objects
What is the capacity of the Episodic Buffer, and why?
Limited, as it acts as a bridge between STM and LTM
