Working Memory Model Flashcards
What is the working memory model?
An explanation of the STM
What is the central executive?
The main portion of the model that drives the whole system, monitors incoming data and allocates it to the two ‘slave systems’
Why does the central executive allocate information to other systems?
It has a limited capacity
What are the two main sub systems of the Central Executive?
Phonological loop & visuo-spatial sketchpad
What does the phonological loop do?
Deals with auditory information and preserves its order
What is the phonological loop subdivided into?
Phonological store (words you hear) Articularly process (allows maintenance rehearsal/inner voice)
What is the visuo-spatial sketchpad for?
Stores visual/spatial information
What is the visuo-spatial sketchpad subdivided into?
the visual cache and the inner scribe
what is the inner scribe for
deals with spatial relations by encoding the arrangements of objects in the visual field
what is the visual cache for
stores visual data
what is the episodic buffer
provides a temporary store and links with LTM
what is the most recent addition to the WMM
episodic buffer
what is one limitation of the WMM
- the CE is only vaguely defined and does not explain the CE properly
- idea of one CE is false, may be several
What is a strength of the WMM?
It can explain findings such as the word length effect and partial memory difficulties
Why is the WMM better than the MSM?
- Distinguishes between different stores and processes within STM
- Expands MSM by further defining separate stores
What does the phonological store do?
Allows acoustically coded items to be stored
What does the articulatory process do?
Allows for maintenance rehearsal
What are 4 strengths of the WMM?
- Research support from Hitch and Baddely’s study
- Evidence for the four components
- Explanatory power
- Comparison with the MSM
What was Hitch and Baddelys study?
A lab experiment investigating whether participants could use different components of the working memory model at one time
What were participants asked to do in Hitch and Baddelys study?
Perform two tasks at the same time, one task requiring them to repeat a list of numbers, the other a verbal reasoning task
What was found in Hitch and Baddelys study?
Participants had slower performance on the verbal reasoning task (uses only the CE) and a second task (using CE and AL) than a task involving the articulatory loop alone
How does Hitch and Baddelys study support the WMM?
It shows that each component has a limited capacity, as a task involving the same component is difficult, therefore supporting the WMM
What provides evidence supporting the central executive?
FMRI scans showing more activation is certain parts of the brain when participants had a dual-task activity rather than a single task
How do FMRI scans support the WMM?
They provide evidence for the central executive as it reflects increase attentional demands
What provides evidence supporting the phonological loop?
The ‘word length effect’: participants found it easier to remember shorter words than longer, but when they were given an articulatory suppression task, participants could not remember shorter words better so word length effect disappeared
How does the WMM provide explanatory power?
It can explain findings such as the ‘word length effect’ and partial memory difficulties such as the case study of KF
How does the WMM compare with the MSM?
The model expands the MSM by offering a better account of the STM and further defining the separate stores
What are two limitations of the WMM?
- CE is only vaguely defined
- Evidentiary support from brain damaged patients may not be informative as we cannot make before and after comparisons
Why is the CE only being vaguely defined a limitation?
It is the most important component as it drives the whole system, yet critics believe it is not explained properly
