Working Memory Model Flashcards
what is the function of the central executive
directs attention to tasks. in control of the slave systems. it has limited capacity
what is the function of the phonological loop
stores auditory information. Divided into:
- phonological store- holds words you hear
- articulatory process- used for words heard or seen (silently repeated/looped: maintenance rehearsal)
what is the function of the visuo-spatial sketchpad
stores visual and spatial information
- visual cache: info about visual items ie its colour
- inner scribe: stores the arrangment of objects in the visual field
what is the function of the episodic buffer
a general store, for things that involve both acoustic and visual information. integrates information from all 3 stores. sends information to the LTM
what is a strength of WMM? (KF)
the case study of KF. studies of individuals with brain damage support the WMM. KF had brain damage to his left occipital lobe. his short term forgetting of auditory information was much greater than visual information. his problems with auditory information were verbal material not meaningful sounds.
brain damage to the phonological loop
supports the idea of several stores. (MSM is too simplistic)
what is a strength of WMM? (dual task)
Baddeley and Hitch showed that it is much more difficult for someone to complete two visual tasks rather than a visual and auditory task. this is because a visual and auditory task would use different components of the working memory
what is a limitation of the WMM? (central executive)
many psychologists believe that the description of the central executive is too simplistic/vague and that it should be divided into several components.
Case study of EVR: he performed well on reasoning tasks suggesting that his C.E was intact, but he had poor decision making, suggesting his C.E was not wholly intact.
Not a full explanation/too simplistic
what is a limitation of the WMM? (case studies)
key evidence for the WMM comes from case studies of individuals with brain damage. this is problematic. the process of brain injury is traumatic which may in itself change behaviour. individuals with brain damage also suffer from difficulties such as not being able to pay attention, which could cause them to underperform on a task.
WMM is based on unreliable evidence
2 strengths and 2 limitations of case studies (general)
+ offers rich, indepth data
+ complex interaction of many factors can be studied
- cannot be generalised
- case study occurs after the individual has brain damage and so we cannot be sure that the apparent observed changes were not present originally
