Working Memory Model

Question 1

AO1?

Answer 1

There are 3 main parts to the original version of the working memory model. These are the central executive which acts like a manager allocating processing resources and coordinating the activity of the two slave systems, the phonological loop and the visuo-spatial sketch pad.

Question 2

Phonological Loop

Answer 2

The phonological loop is auditory short term memory. It is a loop because it can store and repeat sound for around 20-30 seconds. It has two subcomponents, phonological store and articulatory control process. The phonological store is the inner ear and contains snippets of sounds either from the outside world or recalled from long term memory. The articulatory control process is the inner voice which essentially is our own voice inside our heads.

Question 3

Visuo-Spatial Sketch pad

Answer 3

The visuo-spatial sketch pad is visual short term memory, or the inner eye. It can manipulate images in two and three dimensions, for example you can recall a friend’s face from long-term memory in two dimensions and you can imagine walking around the kitchen in your house in three dimensions.

Question 4

Episodic Buffer

Answer 4

The original model was updated by Baddeley (2000) after the model failed to explain the results of various experiments. An additional component was added called the episodic buffer. The episodic buffer acts as a ‘backup’ store which communicates with both long term memory and the components of working memory.

Question 5

The working memory model makes the following two predictions:

Answer 5

1. If two tasks make use of the same component (of working memory), they cannot be performed successfully together.
2. If two tasks make use of different components, it should be possible to perform them as well as together as separately.

Question 6

E1: Research Support

Answer 6

AIM: Paulesu et al. (1993) carried out this study to investigate the nature of the phonological loop in working memory.
METHOD: Participants were required to either store a series of letters or the sounds of the letters (ah). While they were carrying out these tasks, the blood flow in their brains was monitored using a technique called positron emission tomography.
RESULTS: The two tasks gave quite different patterns of blood flow in the brain. The rehearsal of letter ‘sounds was associated with increased blood flow in Broca’s area of the brain, whereas the letter-mem­ory task was associated with a different area of the brain. ……it supports the view that the phonological loop comprises two compo­nents,
one which stores sounds
and one which is capable of the mental rehearsal of items