Working Memory Model Flashcards
What is the Working Memory Model and who developed it?
Proposed by Baddeley and Hitch (1974). A representation of STM concerned with the part of the mind that is active when we are temporarily storing and manipulating information.
Name the 4 main parts of the WMM
Central executive, Episodic buffer, Visuo-spatial sketchpad, Phonological loop.
2 components of the phonological loop
Articulatory control system
Phonological store
2 components of the visuospatial sketchpad
Inner scribe
Visual cache
What is the role of the Central executive
It has a supervisory function. Monitors data, allocates tasks and directs attention to the slave systems.
What is the role of the episodic buffer
Binds and integrates information from all of the slave systems and sub-components and sends the information to the LTM. Acts as a link between working memory and long term memory.
What is the central role of the phonological loop
Processes and codes auditory information (both written and spoken material).
What is the central role of the visuospatial sketchpad
Processes visual and spatial information in a mental space (‘inner eye’)
Role of the two subcomponents of the PL
Articulatory control system (‘inner voice’) – keeps info in PL through vocal repetition and is linked to speech production. Converts language presented visually to a phonological state.
Phonological store (‘inner ear’) – stores words recently heard for a short period of time in a speech-based form
Role of the two subcomponents of the visuospatial sketchpad
Inner scribe – handles spatial relationships between objects
Visual cache – processes visual info about form and colour of an object
WMM Predictions on dual task performance
If two tasks make use of the same component, they cannot be successfully performed together. If two tasks make use of different components, it should be possible to complete them together at the same level as if done separately.
Outline a study that supports the WMM through dual task performance
Baddeley et al. (1975):
In Condition A, participants were asked to carry out two visual tasks, complete the light tracking task whilst imagining the angles and lines of letters in their heads.
In Condition B, participants were asked to carry out a visual and a verbal task simultaneously, complete the light tracking task whilst verbally responding to yes/no questions about the angles and lines of letters they were visualising.
They found that when participants were asked to carry out two visual tasks at the same time (Condition A) their performance was worse compared to participants who had to carry out a visual and verbal task at the same time (Condition B).
This is because when completing two visual tasks they compete for limited resources of visuo-spatial sketchpad whereas the tasks in condition B used separate components: the visuo-spatial sketchpad and phonological loop.
2 Strengths of the WMM
Evidence for division of the Visuo-spatial Sketchpad:
Klauer and Zhao (2004) provided empirical support for the distinction between the visual cache and inner scribe components of the visuo-spatial sketchpad. Their research revealed that more interference occurred between two visual tasks than between visual and spatial tasks. This observation suggests that the visual cache and inner scribe are separate components, as undertaking a visual task requires the use of the visual cache, whilst spatial tasks command the inner scribe.
PET scans also support these findings, with brain activation apparent in the left hemisphere when doing visual tasks and right hemisphere activity when doing spatial tasks. This supports the idea that the VSS is subdivided into a separate visual cache and inner scribe.
Case study:
Shallice and Warrington (1970) studied K.F., a patient who experienced brain as a result of a motorcycle accident. Patient KF could recall verbal but not visual information immediately after its presentation. This suggests he had damage to his phonological loop, but not his visuospatial sketchpad.
2 limitations of WMM
Central executive is too vague:
Eslinger and Damasio (1985) studied patient EVR who had a cerebral tumour removed. He performed well on tests requiring reasoning, which suggested his CE was intact. However, he had very poor decision making skills which suggests it’s not wholly intact. (He could spend hours deciding what to eat).
Fails to consider memory holistically:
The omission of sensory memory limits the model’s scope and renders it incomplete as a comprehensive representation of human memory processes. By overlooking the role of sensory memory, the WMM fails to account for how sensory input is initially perceived, processed, and selectively attended to before being encoded into working memory.
