Working memory model Flashcards
Memory
who discovered the Working Memory Model
Braddley and Hitch
why was WMM suggested
MSM was criticized for oversimplyfing STM
Central executive
Monitor and coordinator of all the other mental function in WMM
- has limited capacity
phonolgical loop
codes speech sounds in working memory model
Braddley divides this further into:- phonological store acts as an inner ear and holds information in a speech-based form (i.e., spoken words) for 1-2 secondsand artculatory process
phonological store is a short term store that briefly retain in and the order they are appeared in (inner ear)
an artculatory process repeats words to keep the wrod in the phonological loop (inner voice)
Visuo spatial sketch pad
is used when you have a spatial task.
Visual and spatial info is temporarily stored here.
Visual info is what things would look like
Spatial info is the physical relationship between things
logie suggested that visual sketchpad can be divided into
visual cache:- stores info about visual items
inner scribe:- stores arrangement of objects in the visual field.
Episodic Buffer
a temporary store for information coded in all forms. it can be seen as the storage component of the central executive and has a limited capacity of about four chunks. The episodic buffer is linked working memory model to long term memory and wider cognitive processes such as perception.
Strength of WMM
One strength is support from the case study of KF. After his brain injury KF had poor STM ability for auditory info but could process visual info normally. For instance his instant recall if letters and digits were better when he read them than when they were read to him. KF’s physiological loop was damaged but his visual sketch pad was still intact. This finding strongly supports the existence of separate visual and acoustic memory stores.
Another strength is the studies of dual task performance support the separate existence of the visuo spatial sketchpad. When Braddley et al participant carried out a visual and verbal at the same time, their performance on each was similar to when they carried out the task separately. But when both task were visual, performance on both declined substantially. This is because both visual tasks compete for the same subsystems, whereas there is no competition when performing a verbal and visual task together. This shows that there must be a separate subsystem that processes visual input.
limitations of WMM
One limitation is that there is lack of clarity over the nature of the central executive. Braddley (2003) recognised this when he said, “The central executive is the most important but the least understood of working memory model’. The CE needs to be more clearly specified than just being simply attention. For example some psychologist believe the CE may contain of separate subcomponents. This means that CE is an unsatisfactory component and that this challenges the integrity of WMM.
