Working Memory Model

Question 1

Define working memory.

Answer 1

Working memory is the area of the memory that is used while “working on things” and represents conscious thoughts (what you are thinking about now).

Question 2

What is the working memory model?

Answer 2

A more complex version of the STM/ immediate memory which focuses on active processing rather than just temporary storage.

Question 3

What are the 4 components of the WMM?

Answer 3

Central executive
Phonological loop
Viso- spatial sketchpad
Episodic buffer

Question 4

What is the function of the central executive?

Answer 4

It is the key component of the WMM.
Involved in monitoring & coordinating mental functions in the working memory for planning, reasoning and decision making.

Question 5

What is another main function of the central executive?

Answer 5

The function of this component is to direct attention to particular tasks, determining how the components are allocated to these tasks.

Question 6

What is the capacity of the central executive?

Answer 6

Has very limited capacity therefore cannot attend to too many things at once.

Question 7

What is the capacity of the phonological loop?

Answer 7

Has a limited capacity.

Question 8

What is the function of the phonological loop?

Answer 8

Deals with coding auditory info (speech sounds) and preserving the order of info.

Question 9

What are the two sub components that the phonological loop is divided into?

Answer 9

The phonological store & the auditory control process

Question 10

What is the function of the phonological store?

Answer 10

Holds words you hear (like an ‘inner ear’).

Question 11

What is the function of the auditory control process?

Answer 11

Used for words that are heard/ seen (these are repeated silently like an ‘inner voice’).

Question 12

What is the function of the viso-spatial sketchpad?

Answer 12

Is used when planning a spatial task ( like getting from one room to another) and codes visual info (‘like an inner eye’).

Question 13

What are the sub components of the viso-spatial sketchpad?

Answer 13

A visual cache

An inner scribe

Question 14

What is the function of a visual cache?

Answer 14

Stores properties and info of visual items (e.g colour).

Question 15

What is the function of an inner scribe?

Answer 15

Stores the arrangement of objects in the visual field.

Question 16

What is the function of the episodic buffer?

Answer 16

Is an extra storage system.
Combines info from the phonological loop, viso-spatial sketchpad and central executive which is sent to the LTM.
Also records events that are happening in the moment.

Question 17

What is the storage capacity of the episodic buffer?

Answer 17

Limited storage capacity.

Question 18

Evaluate the WMM in terms of dual task performance.

Answer 18

This is a strength.
Robbins et al (1996) supports that there is limited storage capacity in components in a study that involved 12 participants who were moderately good at playing chess who selected moves from various chess positions whilst completing a second task at the same time which either involved the CE, PL or VSS.
Findings: The quality of the moves selected decreased when either the CE or VSS we required in the second task but there was no negative effect on the PL.
Chess relies heavily on CE and VSS so do other tasks so it reduces the chance of optimal performance

Question 19

Evaluate the WMM in terms of brain scan evidence.

Answer 19

Shallice and Warrington studied KF whose short term forgetting of auditory info was much greater than that of visual stimuli.
In addition is auditory problems were limited to verbal material such as letters and digits but not meaningful sounds such as a phone ringing.
Therefore his brain damage seemed to be limited to the PL.
Supports the WMM because suggests that there are different spatial and visual systems

Question 20

Why is the central executive a limitation to this model ?