The Working Memory Model

Question 1

Outline the role of the central executive in the WMM.

Answer 1

Monitors incoming data and directs attention to particular tasks.
Has a very limited capacity and does not store information.

Question 2

Outline the role of the phonological loop in the WMM.

Answer 2

Deals with auditory information and preserves the order in which information arrives.
Subdivided into the phonological store and articulatory process
phonological store - stores the words you hear.
articulatory process - used for words that are heard or seen , allows for maintenance rehearsal, capacity is believed to be 2 seconds worth of what you can say.

Question 3

Outline the role of the visuo-spatial sketchpad in the WMM.

Answer 3

Stores visual and spacial information when required.
Limited capacity of 3-4 objects.
Sub-divided into the visual cache and innerscribe.
The visual cache stores visual data.
The innerscribe stores the arrangement of objects in the visual field.

Question 4

Outline the role of the episodic buffer in the WMM.

Answer 4

Intergrates information from the central executive, phonological loop and visuo-spacial sketchpad.
Maintains a sense of time sequencing.
Sends information to the long-term memory store.
Limited capacity.

Question 5

What is one strength of the working memory model?

Answer 5

1. Research support for the phonological loop and visuo-spatial sketchpad.

Shallice and Warrington’s study of KF shows that KF had very poor short-term memory recall for auditory stimuli but increased short-term memory recall for visual stimuli. This provides support for the working memory model as it suggests that the components of memory which process auditory and visual stimuli are separate.

Question 6

What are two limitations of the WMM?

Answer 6

1. Lack of clarity over central executive.
   EVR: had cerebral tumour removed - could perform well on tests requiring reasoning but had poor decision making skills. Shows his central executive is both intact and not?
   Explained component at the least understood.
   Needs to be more clearly specified.
2. Research supporting WMM is mainly from case studies.
   Brain injuries are likely to change a person entirely making them perform worse on certain tasks inevitably.
   Also unique to individual so can’t be generalised