working memory Flashcards
What is working memory?
Working memory refers to the cognitive system that temporarily stores and manipulates information needed for tasks like reasoning, comprehension, and learning. It also supports simple cognitive tasks such as thinking and daydreaming (Baddeley, 2010).
What is the Modal Model of Memory (Atkinson & Shiffrin, 1968)?
The Modal Model suggests there are multiple memory stores: sensory memory, short-term memory (STS), and long-term memory (LTM). Information moves between these stores via attention, encoding, and retrieval. STS maintains info through rehearsal.
What are the problems with the Modal Model of Memory?
The model assumes there is only one STS, fails to explain how two tasks can be done simultaneously, and overemphasizes the role of time in transferring info from STS to LTM. It also doesn’t account for patients who have STS damage but perform well in problem-solving tasks.
What are the main components of Baddeley’s Working Memory model?
Baddeley’s model includes the Central Executive (controls attention and resources), Phonological Loop (handles verbal information), and Visuospatial Sketchpad (handles visual and spatial information).
How much information can the phonological loop hold?
The phonological loop can hold about 7 items, based on experiments with unrelated words, digits, and letters.
What is the Word Length Effect?
The Word Length Effect refers to better recall for shorter words than longer ones, as shorter words can be rehearsed within the 1.5-second articulatory loop.
What is the articulatory loop in the phonological loop?
The articulatory loop allows for subvocal rehearsal of information, helping people remember words or numbers by repeating them mentally or quietly.
What is the function of the Visuospatial Sketchpad?
The Visuospatial Sketchpad handles visually guided actions and mental imagery, allowing us to visualize objects and navigate spaces.
What is the capacity of the Visuospatial Sketchpad?
The Visuospatial Sketchpad typically holds around 6-7 items, though some research suggests it may hold a fixed number (4 or 7), depending on the task.
What are the two main perspectives on the Visuospatial Sketchpad’s capacity?
Some suggest it holds a fixed number of items (e.g., 4 or 7), while others argue that working memory is a limited resource shared among all items being processed.
What is the role of the Central Executive in Baddeley’s model?
The Central Executive directs attention, coordinates the activities of the Phonological Loop and Visuospatial Sketchpad, and manages cognitive resources for tasks like problem-solving and decision-making.
How do the buffers in Baddeley’s working memory model interact?
The buffers (Phonological Loop, Visuospatial Sketchpad) are independent, meaning information in one does not interfere with the other. This allows multitasking, such as visualizing an image while holding a string of numbers.
What is the Episodic Buffer in Baddeley’s model?
The Episodic Buffer is a temporary storage system that integrates information from different sources (e.g., visual, spatial, and verbal data) and links it to long-term episodic memory. It allows for coordinated retrieval and processing of complex information.
How does the Episodic Buffer support memory recall?
The Episodic Buffer integrates information across time and space, reactivating brain regions when episodic information is retrieved, such as recalling a sequence of events or a series of videos (Bird et al., 2014).
What evidence supports the function of the Episodic Buffer in memory?
Studies like Bird et al. (2014) show that recalling episodic events (e.g., a sequence of videos) leads to reactivation of specific brain regions, which suggests the Episodic Buffer plays a key role in storing and retrieving episodic information.
