the working memory model Flashcards
working memory model definition
a representation of the short-term memory. it suggests that STM is a dynamic processor of different types of information using subunits co-ordinated by a central decision-making system
who developed working memory model
Baddeley and Hitch
when was working memory model developed
1974
what is working memory model
an explanation of how one aspect of memory (short-term memory) is organised and how it functions
what is working memory model concerned with
‘mental space’ that is active when we are temporarily storing and manipulating information
what does working memory model consist of
4 main components which are qualitatively different especially in terms of coding and capacity
what 4 main componenets does working memory model consist of
-central executive
-phonological loop
-visuo-spatial sketchpad
-episodic buffer
central execuative definition
component of the WMM that co-ordiantes the activities of the 3 subsystems in memory. also allocates processing resources to those activities
phonological loop definition
processes sound, this includes written and spoken material. its divided into phonological store and articulatory process
visuo-spatial sketchpad definition
processes visual and spatial information in a mental space often called our ‘inner eye’
episodic buffer definition
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
centeral execuative role
supervisory
what does central executive do
moniters incoming data, focuses and divides our limited attention and allocates subsystems to tasks
central executive capacity
limited processing capacity and does not store information
what does phonological loop do
deals with auditory information and preserves the order in which the information arrives
phonological loop coding
acoustic
what is phonological loop subdivided into
-phonological store
-articulatory process
what does the subdivision of the phonological loop, the phonological store do
stores the words you hear
what does the subdivision of the phonological loop, the articulatory process do
allows maintenance rehearsal (repeating sounds or words in a loop to keep them in working memory while they are needed) the capacity of the loop is believed to be 2 seconds worth of what you can say
what does visuo-spatial sketchpad do
stores visual and/or spatial information when required
visuo-spatial sketchpad capacity
limted capacity, which according to Baddeley is 3 or 4 objects
what did Logie subdivide visuo-spatial sketchpad into
-visual cache
-inner scribe
when did Logie subdivide the visuo-spatial sketchpad
1995
what does the subdivide of visuo-spatial sketchpad, the visual cache do
store visual data
what deos the subdivide of the visuo-spatial sketchpad , the inner scribe do
records the arrangement of objects in the visual field
what does the episodic buffer do
temporary store for information, integrating the visual, spatial and verbal information processes by other stores and maintaining a sense of time sequencing -basically recording events that are happening. it can be seen as the storage component of the central executive
when was episodic buffer added to working memory model and who by
by Baddeley in 2000
episodic buffer capacity
limited to about 4 chunks
what does episodic buffer link
working memory to long-term memory and wider cognitive processes such as perception
strength of working memory model - clinical evidence
-Shallice and Warrington’s 1970 case study of KF
-after his brain injury KF had poor STM ability for auditory information but could process visual information normally. for instance his immediate recall of letters and digits was better when he read them (visual) than when read to him (acoustic). phonological loop was damaged but visuo-spatial sketchpad was intact –> findings strongly supports existence of separate visual and acoustic memory stores
limitation of working memory model - counterpoint to clinical evidence
-unclear if KF had cognitive impairments other than damage to phonological loop which might have affected his performance on memory tasks
-for example his injury was caused by a motorcycle accident, the trauma may have affected his cognitive performance apart from any brain injury –> challenges evidence that comes from clinical studies of people with brain injuries that may have affected many different systems
strength of working memory model - dual-task performance
-dual task performance supports the separate existence of the visu-spatial sketchpad
-Baddeley et al’s participants carried out visual and verbal task at the same time their performance was similar to when they carried out both tasks separately. but when both tasks were visual/verbal performance on both declined, this is because both tasks come from the same subsystem, whereas there is no competition when performing visual and verbal tasks together –> must be separate subsystems (VSS) that processes visual input and one form processing verbal (PL)
limitation of working memory model - nature of the central executive
-lack of clarity over nature of central executive
-Baddeley recognised this. the central executive needs to be more clearly specified than just simply being ‘attention’. some psychologists believe that central executive may consist of separate subcomponents –> central executive is an unsatisfactory component and challenges integrity of working memory model
evaluation of working memory model - validity of the model
-dual-task studies support WMM as 2 tasks sharing a subsystem are much harder to perform together than those using separate subsystems
-however, these studies use tasks that are unlike tasks in everyday life. they are also carried out in highly-controlled lab conditions
