The working memory model (WMM)

Question 1

The working memory model (WMM)

person

Answer 1

Baddeley and Hitch (1970s)

Question 2

The working memory model (WMM)

definition

Answer 2

└updated version of STM
└WM is understood as an active processor
└suggests STM is a dynamic processor of different types of information using sub units coordinated by a central decisionn making system

Question 3

Working memory model

Components

Answer 3

• Central executive
• Phonological loop
• Visuo-spatial sketchpad
• Episodic buffer

Question 4

Central executive

Answer 4

└decides and allocates activities of 3 slave systems

└capacity- very limited

Question 5

Phonological loop

Answer 5

└phonological store
  └stores words you hear
└articulatory process
  └allows maintenance rehearsal
  └capacity- 2 seconds of words

Question 6

Visuo-spatial sketchpad

Answer 6

└stored visual and/or spatial information
└capacity- 2/4 objects
└Logie (1995)
└visual cache- stores visual data
└inner scribe- records arrangement of objects in visual field

Question 7

Episodic buffer

Answer 7

└Baddelely (2000)- added to model
└temporary store
└integrates other subsystems
└bridge between working memory and LTM

Question 8

Working memory model
Strengths
Summary

Answer 8

• Clinical evidence: Shallice and Warrington (1970)
• Dual-task performance: Baddely et al (1975)
• Brain scanning studies support the EMM: Braver et al (1997)

Question 9

Working memory model
Strengths
Clinical evidence

Answer 9

└Shallice and Warrington (1970)
└case study, patient KF who suffered brain damage
└after damage, he had poor STM ability for verbal information but was fine with visual information
└suggests phonological loop had been damaged leaving other areas of memory intact
└supports separate visual and acoustic store
└HOWEVER evidence from brain damaged patients may not be reliable as unique cases with traumatic experiences so can’t be generalised

Question 10

Working memory model
Strengths
Dual-task performance

Answer 10

└research support for the separate existence of the visuo-spatial sketchpad
└Baddely et al (1975)
└participants had more difficulty doing two visual tasks (tracking a light and describing the letter F) than doing a visual and a verbal task at the same time
└more difficult as both visual tasks compete for the same slave system
└when doing visual and verbal tasks at same time there is no competition
└means there must be a separate slave system (VSS) that processes visual input

Question 11

Working memory model
Strengths
Brain scanning studies support the EMM

Answer 11

└Braver et al (1997)
└gave participants a task that involved the central executive while they were having a brain scan
└found greater activity in left prefrontal cortex
└activity increased at task difficulty increased
└demands of CE increase, it works harder to fulfil its function

Question 12

Working memory model

Limitations

Answer 12

Lack of clarity over central executive
└cognitive psychologists suggest this component of the WMM is unsatisfactory and doesn’t explain anything
└Baddely (2003)
└’the central executive is the most important but least understood component of working memory’
└WMM isn’t fully explained