Working memory model (WMM) - Baddely/Hitch (1974)

Question 1

What is the Working memory model? (WMM)

Answer 1

this was a theory that was developed by Baddeley and Hitch (1976)
it demonstrates multi component which allows processing of information simultaneously and switching to attention therefore it explains that its an active store because of this
simply put it further explains STM more and it criticize MSM as its challenging the concept of single unitary store by using dual task studies.

Question 2

What are the components within the WMM that makes it an active store/memory?

Answer 2

These are the:
- Central execitive
- Phonological loop
- Visuospatial sketchpad
- Episodic buffer
its an active memory as it is a multi-component which allows processing of info simultaneously and switching attention

Question 3

What is the Central executive?

Answer 3

A way to think of it is that its basically the big boss.
It drives the whole system and allocates data to the subsystems: the phonological loop and the visuospatial sketchpad.
It can also deal with cognitive task such as mental arithmetic (doing maths in your head) and problem solving
Has a minimal storage capacity

Question 4

what is an example of Central executive?

Answer 4

• reading while holding a convo: your central executive allows you to switch your attention between the 2 (basically divides your attention to do multiple task)
• able to block out unecessary info/data

Question 5

What is the Phonological loop?

Answer 5

A way to think of it is that its the thing that allows you hear info and process it to speech
this is a component that deals with spoken and written material.
Its sub-divided into the:
- (inner ear) Phonological store: this process speech perception and stores spoken word we heard for 1-2s
- (inner voice) Articulatory control process: this processes speech production and rehearses and stores verbal info from the phonological store and it stores limited number of speech based sounds for brief periods

Question 6

what is an example of Phonological loop?

Answer 6

use a phone number for example:

1. phonological store receives the spoken numbers and briefly holds them
2. then the articulatory control process can continuously play them back in our minds

Question 7

What is the Visuospatial sketchpad?

Answer 7

A way to think of it is that we use it to see what in front of us and stores that picture by its shape, angles, size etc and
keep a mental image for later

its a component that stores and processes information in a visual or spatial from and can be used for navigation.

It can recreate images either based on something we are seeing in real time or something we have seem in the past

Question 8

what is an example of Visuospatial sketchpad?

Answer 8

can be used when drawing something

• the visuospatial sketchpad holds a picture of that object in your mind while you reproduce it on paper
• you use things like the location of it and how much space it took, a brief image of it, the size, the shape etc

Question 9

What is the Episodic buffer?

Answer 9

This was later introduced in the 2000 because the first one failed to explain the results of various experiments.
It also acts as a back up store which communicates with both LTM and the components of WMM

Question 10

Strengths

Answer 10

neurological evidence comes from the single case study of KF (Shallice & Warrington, 1974) who suffered STM impairment following a motorbike accident that damaged his parietal lobe. He had a digit span of one suggesting a gross impairment in his phonological store but his visual memory was intact.

Evidence from neuroimaging shows evidence for the localisation of the different subcomponents of WM. Paulesu et al (1993) demonstrated that different regions of the brain were activated when undertaking tasks that employed the phonological store and the articulatory rehearsal system. Using a PET scan they found that the Broca’s area was activated during subvocal rehearsal tasks (remembering words) and the supramarginal gyrus was activated when the phonological store was being used. The research provides evidence for the phonological loop and its separate subcomponents. The exact location of the central executive has been difficult to find as it is largely diffused across the cortex.

Question 11

Weakness

Answer 11

Much of the research has been developed through abstract lab experiments or very specific ones such as reading and are criticised for lacking validity therefore. It is not clear how the model deals with more meaningful, everyday experiences or what form transferring information from working memory to LTM would be like.

Elsinger and Damasio (1985) described the case study of a man who suffered brain damage as a result of the removal of a brain tumour. His reasoning ability was good, his IQ was high and he coped well with interference tasks, suggesting his central executive was working well, however her suffered problems with decision making.