Working Memory Model Flashcards
Central executive
The central executive function is to monitor the overall memory
systems (1) rather than acting as an information storage system
(1). This means it allocates the cognitive memory tasks to the
appropriate subsystems (1) such as the phonological loop.
Visuo spatial sketch pad
The inner eye
Keeps Track of where we are
Processes visual input such as images or lights, and spatial information such as direction
The visuo-spatial sketchpad is responsible for the temporary storage and manipulation of visual and spatial information (1) and recreating images either in real time, or things we have seen in
the past (1)
Phonological loop
Deals with spoken and written material
Two parts:
Inner ear - holds info based in speech form
Articulatory process - acts like inner voice, rehearsing information from phonological store
Episodic buffer
Binds memories together
Weaves visual and phonological memories into single episodes
KF
Brain damage from a motorcycle accident
Impairment verbal not visual
STM components visual and verbal separate
Baddeley and Hitch (1976)
Visual and verbal tasks could be done together
Two slave systems
Tasks couldn’t be done simultaenously
Lieberman (1980)
counter
Vss implies spatial information is first visual
Blind people have good spatial awareness
Vss should be sepearte one visual one spatial
Episodic buffer
Counter
Brought in later explains visual and verbal can be encoded
Retrieve information from LTM
First model didn’t work
Strengths
Can be supported by case studies and repeatable experiments
Explains more than multi store model
Applies to real life tasks
- reading (phonological loop)
- Problem solving (central executive)
- navigation (visual and spatial processing)
Weakness
Little direct evidence how central executive works
Capacity never measured
Only involves STM so not a comprehensive model of memory
