Working Memory Model (AO1) Flashcards
What is the central executive?
- key component in model
- makes decisions, directs attention to particular tasks, decides how the brain allocates ‘resources’ (slave systems) to different tasks
Central Executive
- Duration
- Capacity
- Coding
limited duration - info arrives from the senses but cant hold it very long
very limited capacity
can process info in any modality
What are the 2 slave systems?
visuo-spatial sketchpad
phonological loop
What is the visuo-spatial sketchpad?
stores visual and/or spatial information
visuo-spatial capacity + duration?
limited capacity (3-4 objects)
limited duration
subdivision study for v-s s?
Logie (1995) - suggested subdivision
-> visuo-cache (stores visual info)
-> inner scribe for spatial relations of objects we can see
What is the phonological loop?
deals with auditory (sound) info + order of words/sounds
phonological loop capacity + duration?
limited capacity (1.5-2 seconds of speech)
limited duration
subdivision study for pl?
Baddeley (1986) - suggested subdivision
-> phonological store (stores words we hear)
-> articulatory process (stores words by subvocal repitition)
What is the episodic buffer?
- Baddeley (2000) added episodic buffer as he realised the model needed a more general store
What does episodic buffer provide?
extra storage system for the central executive but with a limited capacity of abt 4 chunks
What else does the episodic buffer do?
integrates info from the other 3 stores + links working memory to LTM
Baddeley et al (1975a)
- Aim
to investigate the existence of a phonological loop in STM
Baddeley et al (1975a)
- Procedure
ppts saw everyday words displayed quickly + then asked to write words in order
Baddeley et al (1975a)
- Condition 1
list contained 5 one-syllable words
- tree, rat, dog