The working memory model Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
1
Q

What is the Working Memory Model (WMM)? (2 points)

A

Proposed by Baddeley and Hitch in 1974

Put forward that STM is not just one unitary store but an active processor consisting of multiple stores

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What are the 4 components of the WMM?

A

Phonological loop
Visuospatial sketchpad (VSS)
Central executive
Episodic buffer

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Describe the features of the phonological loop in the WMM. (4 points)

A

Deals with spoken and written material

Limited capacity

Split into 2 sub-systems:
Phonological store - holds a limited amount of verbal information for a few seconds

Articulatory Loop(inner voice) - engages in “sub vocalising”; similar to MSM’s rehearsal loop

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Describe the features of the visuo-spatial sketchpad in the WMM. (5 points)

A

Stores visual and spatial information

Limited capacity

Visual-cache (VS) – stores material on colour and shape

Inner-scribe (IS) – records arrangement of objects in the visual field and allows rehearsal of spatial information

Sets up and changes mental images - allows us to recreate images based on real-time or past events

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Describe the features of the central executive in the WMM. (4 points)

A

Has a very limited capacity

Drives the whole system

Allocates information to other sections

Controls the flow of information

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Describe the features of the episodic buffer in the WMM. (3 points)

A

Added in 2000 - Baddeley realised the original model required reasoning for why some amnesia patients without long-term recall could immediately recall info

Integrates material from all other components to make complete ‘episodes’ for storage in the LTM

Maintains time sequencing - recording events as they happen

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What are the 3 supporting and 2 refuting arguments for the WMM?

A

Supporting:
Baddeley and Hitch’s dual task research
KF case study
Paulesu et al

Refuting:
Central executive
LTM not being a unitary store

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Describe Baddeley and Hitch’s dual task research that supports the WMM. (3 points)

A

Baddeley & Hitch asked participants to do two tasks that would utilise the VSS at the same time

Found that participants were able to perform the tasks separately without any difficulty, but had impaired performances when they did them simultaneously

Both tasks exceeded the limited capacity in the VSS

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Describe the KF case study that supports the WMM. (3 points)

A

Patient KF suffered brain damage in a motorcycle accident

Had problems with verbal information in his STM but memory for visual information was largely unaffected

Supports the existence of separate STM components for visual information (VSS) and verbal information (phonological loop)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

How is the KF case study not internally valid? (2 points)

A

Case study of one person - behaviours and symptoms may be due to participant variables and individual differences rather than a generalised feature of cognition

Provide evidence for the VSS, phonological loop and their limited capacities, although research methods are limited

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Describe how Paulesu et al supports the WMM. (3 points)

A

Found using a PET scan that Broca’s area was active whilst undertaking speech-based memory tasks eg. learning list of words

Parietal lobe was more active in visuospatial tasks eg. Corsi block test

Objective, empirical research provides evidence for WMM’s two separate slave systems

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Describe how the concept of the central executive challenges the WMM. (3 points)

A

Central executive cannot be measured directly - has very limited capacity

Function has to be inferred from the performance of verbal and visual tasks

May never be scientifically falsified - will always remain a WMM concept with limited scientific credibility

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Describe how the concept of the LTM not being a unitary store challenges the WMM. (3 points)

A

Model is simplistic - doesn’t explain the workings and complexity of the LTM

Tulving proposed that there are three different LTM components; semantic, episodic and procedural - WMM doesn’t state this

MSM considers LTM’s processes by including maintenance rehearsal - WMM doesn’t include this so it’s reductionist

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly