WSM Flashcards
What is the next memory model proposed by Baddeley and Hitch?
The working memory model (Baddeley and Hitch, 1974) replaced the idea of a unitary STM. It suggests a system involving active processing and short-term storage of information.
What are the key features of the working memory model?
Key features include the central executive, the phonological loop, and the visuospatial sketchpad.
What does the central executive do?
The central executive has a supervisory function and acts as a filter, determining which information is attended to. It can process information in all sensory forms, directs information to other slave systems and collects responses.
How is the central executive limited?
It has a limited capacity and deals with only one piece of information at a time.
What are the three slave systems in the working memory model?
The phonological loop, the visuospatial sketchpad, and the episodic buffer.
What is the phonological loop?
The phonological loop is a temporary storage system for holding auditory information in a speech-based form.
What are the parts of the phonological loop and what do they do?
It has two parts: (1) the phonological store (inner ear), which stores words you hear; and (2) the articulatory process (inner voice), which allows maintenance rehearsal.
What does the phonological loop do overall?
The phonological loop plays a key role in the development of reading.
What is the visuospatial sketchpad?
The visuospatial sketchpad (VSS) is a temporary memory system for holding visual and spatial information.
What are the two parts of the visuospatial sketchpad and what do they do?
It has two parts: (1) the visual cache (which stores visual data about form and colour), and (2) the inner scribe (which records the arrangement of objects in the visual field).
What does the episodic buffer do?
The episodic buffer acts as a ‘backup’ (temporary) store for information which communicates with both long-term memory and the slave system components of working memory.
What supports the working memory model?
Working memory is supported by dual task studies.
Why are dual task studies supportive of the working memory model?
It is easier to do two tasks at the same time if they use different processing systems (verbal and visual) than if they use the same slave system.
What is an example of dual task studies?
For example, participants would find it hard to do two visual tasks at the same time because they would be competing for the same limited resources of the visuospatial sketchpad.
What supports the working memory model besides dual task studies?
The KF Case Study supports the Working Memory Model.
What did the KF Case Study show?
KF’s impairment was mainly for verbal information - his memory for visual information was largely unaffected.
What is a limitation of the KF Case Study?
Evidence from brain-damaged patients may not be reliable because it concerns unique cases with patients who have had traumatic experiences.
What is another limitation of the working memory model?
Little is known about how the central executive works.
What is a further limitation of the working memory model?
The model does not explain the link between working memory and long-term memory.
Who conducted the dual task technique experiment?
Baddeley and Hitch conducted an experiment in which participants were asked to perform two tasks at the same time.
What was the procedure of the dual task technique experiment?
Participants performed a digit span task and a verbal reasoning task.
What were the results of the dual task technique experiment?
As the number of digits increased, participants took longer to answer reasoning questions, but not much longer.
What was the conclusion of the dual task technique experiment?
The verbal reasoning task made use of the central executive and the digit span task made use of the phonological loop.
