The Working Memory Model (WMM) Flashcards
What is the WMM
A representation of STM - suggests that STM = a dynamic processor of different types of information using sub-units coordinated by a CENTRAL decision-making system
Central executive (CE)
Component of the WMM that co-ordinates the activities of the 3 subsystems in memory.
Also allocates processing resources to those activities
Phonological loop (PL)
Component of WMM = processes info in terms of sound.
Includes both written and spoken material.
Divided into the phonological store & the articulatory process
Visuo-spatial sketchpad (VSS)
Component of the WMM that processes visual and spatial info in a mental space often called our ‘inner eye’
Episodic buffer (EB)
Component of WMM that brings together MATERIAL from the other subsystems into a single memory rather than separate strands.
It also provides a BRIDGE between working memory and LTM
Who included the EB to the WMM and when
Baddeley in 2000
What kind of store for info is the EB
TEMPORARY
When do we use our working memory
WMM = concerned with part of mind that is active when temporarily storing and manipulating info.
Eg: when working on an arithmetic problem/playing chess/comprehending a language
What is the PL store
The words you hear
What is function of the articulatory process
Allows maintenance rehearsal (repeating sounds/words in a ‘loop’ to keep them in working memory while they’re needed)
Capacity of loop = 2 seconds’ worth of what you can say
What is some clinical evidence for the WMM
Shallice and Warrington’s (1970) case study of KF.
KF had poor STM ability for VERBAL info but could process VISUAL info (presented visually).
Suggest: his PL was damaged leaving other areas intact.
SEPARATE visual and acoustic stores.
Unique cases with patients who have had traumatic experiences though
What is dual task performance
Baddeley et al. (1975) showed = P’s found it more difficult doing 2 VISUAL TASKS (tracking a light and describing letter ‘F’) than doing BOTH a visual and a verbal task at same time.
THIS IS BECAUSE - both visual tasks compete for SAME slave systems whereas when doing a verbal and visual task at the same time = there’s no competition .
Suggests: must be a separate slave system (VSS) that processes visual input
Why is the central executive UNclear
Baddeley said ‘the CE is the most important but the least understood component of WM’ (2003).
CE needs to be more clearly specified than just being simply ‘attention’
Eg: some psychs think it may consist of separate components.
WMM HASN’T BEEN FULLY EXPLAINED
Describe process of ‘The word length effect’ study
Psychologist gave 1 group of P’s a list of short words to learn (eg. torch, ear, sun)
Other P’s = given list of longer words to learn (eg. caravan, elephant, celery).
Results: P’s in 1st group could recall more words than P’s in 2nd group
