The Working Memory Model Flashcards
Name the components of the phonological loop
The phonological store (inner ear): allows acoustic items to be stored for a brief time, and is limited by time rather than content.
The articulatory process (inner voice): allows the subvocal repetition of items from the phonological store.
Name the functions of the central executive
It is the most important part of the working memory model as it controls the other components.
It sorts information and can store data while other memory tasks are being carried out by the other components.
Name the function of the visuo-spatial sketch pad (inner eye)
It stores visual and spatial data and manipulates mental images. It has a limited capacity and can work independently from the phonological loop.
Name the strengths of the working memory model.
It has more far validity than the multi-store model. It’s fits in with the idea that memory is active and has different components allowing us to carry out different tasks at the same time.
Also there is supporting evidence from brain scans: PET scans have show different areas of the brain being activated when tasks using different elements of the of the working memory are being carried out.
Describe the Heyer and Barrett study which supports the working memory model theory.
They showed participants a grid containing letters. They were asked to remember the letters and their position on the grid. They were given tasks: either verbal (counting backwards aloud) or visual (pattern matching). They then had to complete the grid they saw.
Found that recall of letters more disrupted by verbal task as letters were coded acoustically, and the position of letters disrupted by visual task because their position was coded visually.
Demonstrated the different components of the WMM
Name the weaknesses of the working memory model
Although the central executive is the most important part, it is the part we know the least about.
It is more of a description of how memory works rather than an explanation.
