Working memory model (STM) Flashcards
What are the features of the working memory model?
- STM is not unitary but consists of separate components
- Each separate part/component processes and stores different types of information.
- Each component contains different types of memory codes.
- Each has limited storage capacity
What are the 4 main components of the STM according to the WMM
- The central executive
- The phonological loop
- The visuo-spatial scratchpad
- Episodic buffer
What is the central executive?
organiser of STM
- temporarily stores information and then decides what pieces of information to send
to the different components (‘slave systems’).
- can only deal with one type of information at a time as it has a very limited
storage capacity
What is the phonological loop?
deals with auditory information
- active during verbal task and has limited capacity
What are the divisions of the phonological loop
The phonological store
The articulatory loop
What is the function of the phonological store
stores words you hear
What is the function of the articulatory loop
allows maintenance rehearsal
(repeating words ’ to keep them in working memory
- capacity is believed to be 2 secs
What is the function of the Visuo-spatial Sketchpad
stores visual and spatial information
- involved in pattern recognition and perception of movement
- active during physical tasks
What are the divisions of the Visuo-spatial Sketchpad
Visual cache
Inner scribe
What is the function of the visual cache
stores visual data
What is the function of the inner scribe
records the arrangement of objects in the visual field
What is the function of the episodic buffer
acts as a temporary ‘backup’ store
- responsible for integrating and manipulating material from all of the components and the LTM
- it processes info that requires two senses at the same time (e.g sound and visual when watching TV)
- One of its important functions is to recall material from the LTM and integrate it into the components of STM
when working memory requires it
What was the aim if Baddeleys study into the WMM
To test whether STM has separate components as the WMM claims
What was the method of Baddeleys study
Condition 1:
Ppts were given a simple tracking task that involved holding a pointer in contact with a moving spot of light. At the same time, participants were asked to perform an imagery task which involved describing the letter F. (Uses the VSS for both tasks).
Condition 2: Participants were given the tracking task (and a verbal task (this uses two separate components - the VSS and the PL).
What were the results of Baddeleys study
Participants found it very difficult to track the spot of light and describe the letter F
They were much more capable of carrying out the tracking task and the verbal task
What was the conclusion of Baddeleys study
The two visual tasks were completed less successfully because **competing for the limited storage of the VSS*
The visual and verbal task can be done well because they are making use of separate components (the VSS and the PL) and not competing for limited storage in the same component
What are strengths of the WMM
- supported by research (Baddeley)
- supported by case study (KF)
- supported by PET scans
What are limitations of the WMM
- little knowledge ant central executive
- STM is difficult to study
- doesn’t account for music memory
Evaluate research support from Baddeley as a strength of the WMM
P: Supported by research using the dual task technique.
E: Baddeley et al found that participants could successfully track a spot of light and complete a verbal
task at the same time (using the VSS and PL). However, participants were less successful when asked to track the spot of light and describe the letter F (tasks both use the VSS).
E: Supports the claim that STM is not unitary, but instead consists of separate components with limited capacity.
Evaluate support from the case study of KF as a strength of the WMM
P: supported by the case study of KF
E: KF suffered brain damage after a stroke following a motorcycle accident that affected his short-term
memory. KF had poor STM ability for auditory information but could process visual information
normally.
For instance, his immediate recall of letters and digits was better when he read them
than when they were read to him.
Suggests that just his phonological loop had been
damaged, but his VSS was intact.
E: Supports the WMM as a valid explanation of memory because it supports the existence of separate visual and acoustic stores
Further: However, evidence from brain-damaged patients may not be reliable because it concerns unique cases with patients who have had traumatic experiences.
Evaluate support from PET scans as a strength of the WMM
P: Supported from research using PET scans.
E: PET scans have shown brain activity occurring in different areas when individuals are carrying out different
tasks, when doing a visual task and an auditory task different areas of the brain are activated this corresponds with the
four systems that the model proposes.
E: Strength because it provides empirical evidence to suggest that STM does have different
components
Evaluate the little knowledge of the central executive as a limitation of the WMM
P: Very little research has been conducted on the Central
Executive and we therefore have limited evidence for its role in STM.
E: The Central Executive is extremely hard to study and we therefore cannot be sure that it does indeed monitor and coordinate slave systems in the way that the model suggests.
E: Limitation because the claims made about the Central Executive may not be valid.
Evaluate the fact that the STM is difficult to study as a limitation of the WMM
P: STM is difficult to study.
E: As STM has a limited duration of up to 30 seconds, it might not be possible to devise an experimental method that works quickly enough to test its working.
Also, tasks that are given to participants to test STM have low ecological validity, as they are not tasks that would be carried in everyday living.
E: Limitation because any experimental evidence relating to STM might therefore not be valid.
Evaluate the fact that the WMM doesn’t account for the memory of music as a limitation
P: It fails to take memory for music into account.
E: The model would suggest that listening to instrumental music should impair performance on other acoustic tasks e.g. speaking yet this does not seem to be the case.
E: Limitation as the current model is not fully developed. However, Baddeley and
Hitch acknowledge this and are continually adapting the model
