The Working Memory Model

Question 1

What does the Visuo-spatial sketchpad do?

Answer 1

• Processes visual and spatial information by storing (visual cache) and manipulating it (inner scribe)

Question 2

What does the Phonological loop do?

Answer 2

• Subsystem processing auditory/verbal material, subdivided into:
• Phonological store - temporary storage of verbal material
• Articulatory process - maintenance rehearsal of verbal material

Question 3

What does the Episodic Buffer do and when was it added to the WMM?

Answer 3

• Temporary information store that processes info from the other stores and gives it all a sense of time-sequencing and links with LTM
• A storage component with a limited capacity of about four chunks
• Added to WMM in 2000

Question 4

What is the role of the Central Executive?

Answer 4

• Controls working memory by monitoring incoming data, allocating limited attentional resources and subsystems to tasks

Question 5

What research/research patient supported the idea of the WMM?

Answer 5

• Research support. Shallice and Warrington (1970). KF. poor STM ability for auditory info but could process visual info normally. recall better when he read something than when it was read to him. Phonological loop damaged but VSS. Supports existence of separate visual and acoustic stores

Question 6

Who’s research supported the WMM?

Answer 6

• Baddeley’s dual task investigation (pps carry out visual and verbal task at same time, result similar to separately, but when both visual or verbal, result declined. as both visual compete for VSS, whereas no competition otherwise) Shows there must be a separate subsystem (VSS) that processes visual input (and one for verbal processing PL)

Question 7

What element of the WMM is believed to lack clarification and who said so?

Answer 7

• Lack of clarity over nature of central executive. Baddeley (2003) central executive is most important but least understood component of working memory model. Needs to be more clearly specified. Some believe consists of separate sub components. CE is an unsatisfactory component and this challenges integrity of WMM.