Topic 2: Working Memory Model

Question 1

who made the working memory model

Answer 1

Baddeley and Hitch (1974)

Question 2

what are the 5 sections of the working memory model

Answer 2

• Long Term Memory
• Central Executive
• Phonological Loop
• Episodic Buffer
• Visuo spatial sketchpad

Question 3

what is the encoding of the central executive

Answer 3

modality free

Question 4

what is the capacity of the central executive

Answer 4

limited

Question 5

what does the central executive do

Answer 5

• directs attention to tasks
• decides what working memory pays attention to

Question 6

give research of the central executive

Answer 6

Bunge (2000)
- used an MRI scanner to see brain activity with one then two tasks
- significantly more activity when the brain multitasks
- indicates a demand for attention when performing two tasks simultaneously

Question 7

give strengths of the central executive

Answer 7

• most important component
• explains different memory functions and how we direct attention to different things: real world application

Question 8

give weaknesses of the central executive

Answer 8

• very vague in explanation and processes
• model suggests there is one CE which is unlikely

Question 9

what is the encoding of the visuo spatial sketchpad

Answer 9

visual

Question 10

what is the capacity of the visuo spatial sketchpad

Answer 10

approx 3-4 objects

Question 11

what are the two parts of the visuo spatial sketchpad

Answer 11

visual cache and inner scribe

Question 12

what does the visual cache do

Answer 12

stores visual material (eg colour)

Question 13

what does the inner scribe do

Answer 13

handles spatial relationships (eg passing ball in football - need to know where to kick to get it to teammate)

Question 14

give research of the visuo spatial sketchpad

Answer 14

Brookes (1968)
- participants had to mentally visualise a letter then were asked questions about it
- they had to speak aloud, tap or point to a yes/no sign to respond
- the response was faster when spoken or with tapping (not visual)
- indicating they have the same limited capacity components

Question 15

give strengths of the visuo spatial sketchpad

Answer 15

• explains how visual information can be processed at the same time as auditory
• explains processes of STM such as maintenance rehearsal (inner scribe)

Question 16

give weaknesses of the visuo spatial sketchpad

Answer 16

• implies all information starts visual then turns spatial
• blind people have excellent spatial awareness although they have never received visual information

Question 17

what is the encoding of the phonological loop

Answer 17

acoustic

Question 18

what is the capacity of the phonological loop

Answer 18

limited (approx 2 seconds)

Question 19

what are the two parts of the phonological loop

Answer 19

articulatory loop and phonological store

Question 20

what does the articulatory loop do

Answer 20

silently repeats words like an inner voice - type of maintenance rehearsal

Question 21

what does the phonological store do

Answer 21

holds the word heard

Question 22

give research to support the phonological loop

Answer 22

Baddeley(1975)
- participants recalled more short words in serial order than longer words
- supports idea that the capacity of the phonological loop is set by how long it takes to say words not number of words recalled

Question 23

give strengths of the phonological loop

Answer 23

• explains how someone can process auditory information at the same time as visual information in the STM
• explains processes of STM such as maintenance rehearsal (articulatory loop)

Question 24

give weaknesses of the phonological loop

Answer 24

• vague description of phonological store
• connections to central executive not fully explained

Question 25

what is the encoding of the episodic buffer

Answer 25

modality free

Question 26

what is the capacity of the episodic buffer

Answer 26

limited (approx 4 chunks of information)

Question 27

what does the episodic buffer do

Answer 27

- more general store - works as an extra storage system with limited capacity which integrates information from all other areas

Question 28

give research to support the episodic buffer

Answer 28

Alkhakifa (2009) - patient with severely impaired LTM demonstrated a STM of up to 25 items - exceeds capacity of both phonological loop and visuo spatial sketchpad

Question 29

give strengths of the episodic buffer

Answer 29

- explains where memories retrieved from the LTM are processed/stored - explains complex processes in WMM that the original model couldn't explain

Question 30

give weaknesses of the episodic buffer

Answer 30

- little information and not understood fully - lack of info impacts credibility

Question 31

evaluate the naturalistic research of the WMM

Answer 31

P. case study KF E. he was in a motorbike accident and got brain damage E. had poor STM for verbal information but processed visual information normally -> provides evidence for both the phonological loop and visuo spatial sketchpad being separate L. can be seen as a better explanation of memory

Question 32

evaluate the scientific research of the WMM

Answer 32

P. there is scientific research to support the WMM E. Brooks (1968) can be used as supporting evidence of WMM as its scientific E. he showed it was controlled by recording time taken in a systematic way L. there's scientific evidence which backs up the fact that the stores of the WMM are separate

Question 33

evaluate the generalisability of the WMM

Answer 33

P. much of the research comes from artificial lab experiment E. Brooks(1968) is artificial because we aren't asked to visualise letters of the alphabet E. hard to say the research has ecological validity and matches our everyday experiences of how WMM operates L. because of the flaws in research, can question the level of support it provides to the WMM

Question 34

evaluate the theoretical flaws of the WMM

Answer 34

P. contains several theoretical flaws that limit its use E. may still be oversimplified - nature of CE is unclear E. selective hearing - capacity of the PL is larger than proposed by WMM L. still oversimplified - needs more research to explain real life examples of memory

Question 35

evaluate the practical applications of the WMM

Answer 35

P. concept of WMM has practical applications E. can be used to diagnose schizophrenia E. Park et Al (1999) concluded patients with schizophrenia have problems with WM L. implies that WMM has useful applications within society

Question 36

evaluate contradictory research of the WMM

Answer 36

P. there is contradictory research evidence E. Lieberman(1980) criticises the VSS because it implies that all spatial info was first visual E. blind people have excellent spatial awareness but have never received visual information - VSS should be separated L. weakens model as there are significant theoretical flaws - WMM may lack validity