Working Memory Model

Question 1

central executive

Answer 1

monitors incoming data and allocates tasks to appropriate slave systems- limited processing capacity

Question 2

phonological loop

Answer 2

deals with auditory info. split into 2 parts: phonological store (inner ear) and articulatory process (allows maintenance rehearsal)

Question 3

visuo-spatial sketchpad

Answer 3

deals with temporary storage of visual and spatial info. limited capacity. subdivied into visual cache and inner scribe

Question 4

episodic buffer

Answer 4

added to model in 2000. brings together material from other systems into single memory

Question 5

strength- case study of KF

Answer 5

shallice & warrington- KF: impaired verbal STM but intact visual memory= separate components in STM. this supports WMM but challenges MSM

Question 6

weakness- lack of empirical evidence

Answer 6

capacity of central executive has never been measured= difficult to determine limits= remains vaguely defined and not reliable

Question 7

strength- more comprehensive than MSM

Answer 7

less emphasis on rehearsal- explains how info can enter LTM without rehearsal, suggesting other processes influence memory storage

Question 8

weakness- lacks ecological validity

Answer 8

much of the research for WMM is lab studies = highly controlled may not be representative of the real world

Question 9

weakness- incomplete explanation of memory

Answer 9

model focuses on STM and does not explain how info is transferred to LTM= incomplete explanation compared to MSM