Working memory model

Question 1

ads of working memory model

Answer 1

• KF
• dual task
• word length effect
• dyslexia

Question 2

disads of working memory model

Answer 2

• several psychs have criticised the WMM
• think the idea of a central executive = vague + unstable
• case of EVR who had a cerebral tumour removed
• he had good reasoning skills, but couldn’t make decisions
  = suggests central executive was intact, but damaged
  = suggests that central executive is more complicated than WMM claims

Question 3

KF - ads of working memory model

Answer 3

• two psychs reported the case study of KF = had poor STM (motorbike accident)
• had poor STM for words presented verbally, but not for words presented visually
  = suggests that there is more than one type of STM, supporting the WMM
  = shows that we have phonological loop for verbal tasks
  = and visuo-spatial sketchpad for visual tasks

Question 4

dual task - ads of working memory model

Answer 4

• Baddeley + Hitch gave parts a dual task
• asked to complete a reasoning task (uses central executive) at the same time as a reading aloud task (phonological loop)
  = parts could do both tasks simultaneously very well
  = supporting the idea of separate components in STM

Question 5

word length - ads of working memory model

Answer 5

• Baddeley gave parts brief visual presentatuons of lists of words
• words were made up either of short or long words
• parts were asked to recall the list immediately in the correct order
  = word length effect - found that parts could recall more short words than long words
• supposers the idea that the phonological loop can hold as many items as can be said in 1.5 secs to 2 secs
• rather than being limited by 7±2 items as MSM argues

Question 6

dyslexia - ads of working memory model

Answer 6

• WMM has practical applications
• has helped improve understanding of how ppl learnt to read
• helped psychs assist those w/ dyslexia who can struggle w/ reading

Question 7

WMM

Answer 7

• Baddeley + Hitch questioned the idea promoted by MSM that people only have one type of STM
• argued that STM is an active store holding several pieces of info while they’re being worked onn
• argues that LTM is the passive store that only holds previously learned info to be used by STM when needed

Question 8

components of WMM

Answer 8

• central executive
• phonological loop (phonological store + articulatory loop)
• visuo-spatial sketchpad (visual cache + inner scribe)
• episodic buffer

Question 9

central executive

Answer 9

• drives the whole working memory system
• allocates data to other components (slave systems)
• deals w/ cognitive tasks e.g. decision making, reasoning, problem solving
• tasks that are automated make less attentional demands on the central executive
  = leaves us free to perform other tasks, as we have limited attentional capacity

Question 10

phonological loop

Answer 10

• deals w/ spoken + written material

phonological store:
- aka inner ear
- linked to speech perception
- holds info in speech-based form for 1-2 secs

articulatory loop:
- aka inner voice
- linked to speech production
- used to rehearse = store verbal info from phonological store
= allows for maintenance rehearsal

Question 11

visuo-spatial sketchpad

Answer 11

• aka inner eye
• stores + processes info in a visual or spatial form
• used for navigation

visual cache:
- stores visual material about form + colour

inner scribe:
- handles spatial relationships

Question 12

episodic buffer

Answer 12

• a general storage component
• limited capacity store
• integrates info from central executive, phonological loop, visuo-spatial sketchpad, LTM