The working memory model-STM Flashcards
What part of memory does the WMM describe? How is this different from the MSM?
Describes STM and is different from MSM as MSM describes general steps of memory
Name the 4 components in the working memory model
Central executive
Phonological loop
Episodic buffer
Visuo-spatial sketchpad
Describe the function and capacity of the Central executive?
It is an attentional process that solved problems, makes decisions and allocates tasks to the Visio spatial and phonological
Has limited capacity and no storage
Can process info from any sense
Describe the function and capacity of the phonological loop
(Phonological store, articulator loop)
Deals with auditory (verbal) infomation and preserves the order of the info
SPLIT INTO 2
Phonological store, holds words you hear
Articulator loop, silently repeats words as a rehearsal process
(Capacity-2 seconds)
Describe the function and capacity of the visuo-spatial sketchpad
(Visual cache and inner scribe)
VSS deals with visual and spatial tasks (reading map, planning journey)
-has capacity of 3-4 objects
Visual cache stores visual data
Inner scribe records spatial arrangement of objects
Describe the function and capacity of the episodic buffer
Function is to integrate (file) and store information temporarily from all other components and LTM
(Transfers info to and from LTM)
Capacity-4 chunks of info
~How does the WMM disagree with the MSM?
-WMM suggests that the STM is an active processor not a unitary ‘stopping off station’ like the MSM says it is
Give 2 strengths of the WMM
-lots of evidence to support it
(baddeley and KF)
-practical application
How does the case study of KF support the model?
After brain damage, FK could recall info from STM when he read it but couldn’t recall info from STM when it was read to him
Supports WMM because it shows STM isn’t a single store and its made up of components (vss and phonoloop)
Why might it be difficult to make generalisations about working memory from case studies like KF?
Because it was only one person with unique brain damage so we can’t make assumptions about how everyone’s working memory works based on 1 case study
How do dual tasks support the model
(Baddeley 1975)
One group was asked to describe the letter F while following a light beam on a screen
Group 2 told to do a verbal task while following light beam on screen
Group 2 did better as the verbal task used the phonological loop and the following beam used the visual spatial sketchpad so no stores are being overloaded as they have limited capacity but in group one the F and the light beam both used the Visio spatial sketchpad so it got overloaded
How does Baddeley study support the WMM?
include a counter
Supports WMM as we know visual and verbal tasks are performed by seperate components and we know each component has a limited capacity and cant be overloaded.
COUNTER_ lacks external validity as ppt don’t often track light beams so may not reflect how wmm works in real life situation.
How does evidence from brain scans support the model?
Studies showed that different parts of the brain were involved in auditory and visual tasks
Supports WMM as diff parts of the brain active when using PL+VSS+CE so they must be separate components
Braver 1977
Gave ppt tasks using CE while having brain scan and saw greater activity in pre-frontal cortex. Supports as it shows CE exists
How does the working memory model have practical application?
Why is this a strength?
Because phonological loop deficits observed in dyslexia are linked to articulatory loop
And
Teachers aware not to overload the phonological loop
Strength because useful to real life
What are 2 limitations of the WMM?
-Evidence that the CE may be made up of different components
-Model doesn’t account for musicals memory
Explain why there’s evidence that the CE may be made of different components?
Why is this a limitation?
EVR, after brain surgery to remove tumor from pre frontal cortex where the CE is located EVR couldn’t make decisions but could still problem solve
Limitation because CE supposedly performs these tasks so suggests CE made of separate components
Explain how the model doesn’t account For musical memory?
Because ppt can listen to instrumental music without it affecting performance on other acoustic (verbal) tasks
So it suggests musical memory is separate to phonological loop
Limitation because the WMM lacks infomation so therefore we cannot trust it
