Working Memory Model

Question 1

outline the features and description of the Working Memory Model.

Answer 1

-STM is not unitary, made up of 5 separate bits/ each part processes and stores different types on info / each part contains different memory codes/ each has limited storage capacity.

Baddeley and Hitch 
four main components of STM:
- central exec
- phonological loop (articulatory loop & phonological store) 
- visio-spatial scratchpad 
- episodic buffer

Question 2

describe each component or the STM

PART 1

Answer 2

Central Executive: organisers of STM, temp stores & distributes, limited capacity, codes info in all sensory forms.

Phonological Loop: auditory info, active with verbal tasks, limited capacity, PS = stores words you hear, AL = allows maintenance rehearsal (2secs)

Question 3

describe each component or the STM

PART 2

Answer 3

Visio Spatial Sketchpad: visual and spatial info, involved in pattern recognition and perception of movement, deals with items looks and relationship between them, active during visual tasks, limited capacity (3/4 objects (baddeley,2003)), visual cashe - visual data, inner scribe - arrangement of objects in visual field.

Episodic Buffer: updated in 2000, temporary back up store, integrates material from ^ & processes info with 2+ senses e.g watching tv, recall material from the LTM and integrate it into the components of STM when working memory requires it.

Question 4

evaluate the WMM

Answer 4

+KF (motorcycle accident) could process stm visual e.g digits but not verbal e.g sounds, phonological loop damaged.
-little known about CE
-STM difficult to study (little ecological validity with experiments)
+supported by PET scans (brain activity in different areas with different tasks)