The working memory model Flashcards
Who came up with the working memory model?
Baddeley and Hitch (1974)
What is the central executive?
Monitors and coordinates all other mental functions in working memory.
What is an episodic buffer?
receives input from many sources, temporarily stores this information and then integrates it in order to construct a mental episode of what is being experienced.
What is a working memory model?
An explanation of short-term memory called working memory. Based on four qualitatively different components, some with storage capacity.
What is a phonological loop?
Codes speech sounds in working memory, typically involving maintenance rehearsal. This is why this component is referred to as a loop.
What is a Visuo-spatial sketchpad?
Codes visual information in terms of separate objects as well as the arrangement of these objects as well as the arrangement of these objects in ones visual field.
What is the phonological loop made up of?
Phonological store which is the words that you hear like your inner ear. Articulatory process which is words that are heard or seen, like an inner voice.
What is the visa-spatial sketchpad made up of?
A visual cache which stores information about what things look like. A inner scribe which deals with spatial relations with the arrangement of objects in a visual field.
What is a strength of the working memory model?
One strength is from dual ask performance. Baddeley and hitch found that participants were slower in a dual task study that involved both the central executive and the articulatory loop, in comparison to a task which only involved the articulatory loop. This demonstrates the dual task performance effect and shows the central executive is separate from the articulatory loop. This supports the idea of multiple components.
What is a strength of the working memory model?
Another strength comes from supporting case studies. Shallice and Warrington studied a man called KF whose short-term forgetting of auditory information was much greater than his forgetting of visual information. Therefore his brain damage appeared to be restricting his phonological loop and not his visa-spatial sketchpad. This suppress the ides of separate components.
What is a limitation of the working memory model?
One criticism is the central executive. Eslinger and Damasio studied EVR, who had a cerebral tumour removed. Although he performed well on some tests of reasoning, he had poor decision-making skills and would spend hours making simple decisions. This case suggests the CE is wrong and there are several different components involved. This suggests the function of the CE is more complex than originally stated.
