memory - the working memory model. Flashcards

1
Q

What is meant by “working memory model”?

A

Model explaining how the STM works.

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2
Q

What is meant by “central executive”?

A

Controls attention and coordinates the actions of two subsystems.

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3
Q

What is meant by “phonological loop”?

A

Deals with auditory information.

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4
Q

What is meant by “visuo-spatial sketchpad”?

A

Deals with visual and spatial information.

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5
Q

What is meant by “episodic buffer”?

A

A temporary store where visual, spatial and verbal information (all modalities) is integrated.

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6
Q

Who described the working memory model and when?

A

Baddeley and Hitch in 1974.

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7
Q

What does the working memory model state?

A
  • stores described as single units in MSM.
  • proposed a separate model to the MSM.
  • does not try to explain how LTM works.
  • STM is a dynamic processor of different types of information using sub-units coordinated by a central-decision making system.
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8
Q

What are the four memory stores of the WMM?

A
  • central executive.
  • phonological loop.
  • visuo-spatial sketchpad.
  • episodic buffer.
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9
Q

What does the WMM state about the central executive?

A
  • attentional system.
  • modality free
    ↳ codes all senses.
  • can briefly store information but has a limited capacity of around 4 items.
  • considered the most import part of WMM
    ↳ (decision-making, attention, passes information and controls other systems).
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10
Q

What does the WMM state about the phonological loop?

A
  • a sub system.
  • limited capacity of what can be said in 2 seconds.
  • made up of articulatory process and phonological store.
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11
Q

What is the articulatory process?

A
  • inner voice.
  • rehearses information verbally (maintenance rehearsal).
  • used for words we hear or see.
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12
Q

What is the phonological store?

A
  • inner ear.
  • stored words we can hear.
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13
Q

What does the WMM state about the visuo-spatial loop?

A
  • second sub system.
  • visual
    ↳ what things look like.
  • spatial
    ↳ relationship between things such as distance.
  • limited capacity of 3 / 4 objects.
  • Logie (1995) separated the VSS into two subdivisions
    ↳ visual cache.
    ➝ inner scribe.
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14
Q

What is visual cache?

A

Store of visual data such as colour.

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15
Q

What is the inner scribe?

A
  • spatial information such as the arrangement of objects.
  • inner eye.
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16
Q

What does the WMM state about the episodic buffer?

A
  • third sub system.
  • was not part of original model.
  • recently added by Baddeley in 2000.
  • limited capacity of 4 chunks of information.
  • maintains a sense of time sequencing
    ↳ recording events that are happening.
  • links working memory to LTM.
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17
Q

Why did Baddeley and Hitch not think the STM was one store?

A

[dual task technique]
- if you do two things at the same time and they are both either visual or both audio, you perform them less well than if you did them separately.
- if you do two things at the same time and one is visual and one involves sound, you do them as well simultaneously (together) as you do separately.

18
Q

What is the dual task technique?

A
  • used to support idea of multiple stores within STM.
  • there are two separate stores
    ↳ one for visual processing and one for auditory processing.
19
Q

[LEARN THE WORKING MEMORY MODEL DIAGRAM]

A

[LEARN THE WORKING MEMORY MODEL DIAGRAM]

20
Q

What are the strengths of the WMM?

A
  • brain scanning studies.
  • dual task performance.
  • support from case studies.
21
Q

What is a weakness of the WMM?

A
  • lack of clarity over the central executive.
22
Q

What is the evaluation of the MSM - brain scanning studies?

A

POINT - one strength is that there is neurobiological support.
EVIDENCE - Braver et al (1997) gave participants tasks that involved the central executive while performing brain scans and found greater activity in the prefrontal cortex. The harder the task the more activity in the area.
EXPLANATION - shows different memory functions are handled by different areas of the brain.
LINK - shows different memory functions are handled by different areas of the brain.

23
Q

What is the evaluation of the MSM - dual task performance?

A

POINT - one strength is the supporting evidence from dual-task performance studies.
EVIDENCE - Baddeley et al (1975) showed that participants had more difficulty doing two visual tasks (tracking a light and describing the letter F) than doing both a visual and verbal task at the same time (tracking a light and performing a verbal reasoning task).
EXPLANATION - explains the increased difficulty of completing two visual tasks as they are both competing for the same sub system. Verbal and visual tasks done together have no competition.
LINK - provides evidence for the existence of multiple components within our STM and support the idea of a separate phonological loop and visuo-spatial sketchpad.

24
Q

What is the evaluation of the MSM - support from case studies?

A

POINT - one strength is the support from case studies.
EVIDENCE - Shallice and Warrington (1970) case study of Patient KF who suffered from a motorcycle accident. They had poor STM ability for verbal information such as had difficulties with sounds however his memory for visual information remained intact.
EXPLANATION - must be a short-term store which processes visual information which is dealt with by the visuo-spatial sketchpad whereas phonological loop deals with auditory information.
LINK - supports existence of separate visual and acoustic store making WMM a better model to explain the memory system as opposed to the MSM.

25
Q

What is the evaluation of the MSM - lack of clarity over the central executive?

A

POINT - one weakness is there is a lack of clarity over the central executive component of the WMM.
EVIDENCE - Eslinger and Damasio (1985) studied patient named EVR who had his cerebral tumour removed and when tested he performed well on tests requiring reasoning however had poor decision-making skills spending hours deciding what he wanted to eat.
EXPLANATION - as his central executive was not fully intact, the central executive is much more complex than the WMM suggests.
LINK - may consist of several components and not just a single component.

26
Q

What is the evaluation point of the WMM - brain scanning studies?

A

One strength is that there is neurobiological support.

27
Q

What is the evaluation evidence of the WMM - brain scanning studies?

A
  • Braver et al (1997) gave participants tasks that involved the central executive while performing brain scans and found greater activity in the prefrontal cortex.
  • the harder the task the more activity in the area.
28
Q

What is the evaluation explanation of the WMM - brain scanning studies?

A

Shows different memory functions are handled by different areas of the brain.

29
Q

What is the evaluation link of the WMM - brain scanning studies?

A

Shows different memory functions are handled by different areas of the brain.

30
Q

What is the evaluation point of the WMM - dual task performance?

A

One strength is the supporting evidence from dual-task performance studies.

31
Q

What is the evaluation evidence of the WMM - dual task performance?

A

Baddeley et al (1975) showed that participants had more difficulty doing two visual tasks (tracking a light and describing the letter F) than doing both a visual and verbal task at the same time (tracking a light and performing a verbal reasoning task).

32
Q

What is the evaluation explanation of the WMM - dual task performance?

A
  • explains the increased difficulty of completing two visual tasks as they are both competing for the same sub system.
  • verbal and visual tasks done together have no competition.
33
Q

What is the evaluation link of the WMM - dual task performance?

A

Provides evidence for the existence of multiple components within our STM and support the idea of a separate phonological loop and visuo-spatial sketchpad.

34
Q

What is the evaluation point of the WMM - support from case studies?

A

One strength is the support from case studies.

35
Q

What is the evaluation evidence of the WMM - support from case studies?

A
  • Shallice and Warrington (1970) case study of Patient KF who suffered from a motorcycle accident.
  • they had poor STM ability for verbal information such as had difficulties with sounds however his memory for visual information remained intact.
36
Q

What is the evaluation explanation of the WMM - support from case studies?

A

Must be a short-term store which processes visual information which is dealt with by the visuo-spatial sketchpad whereas phonological loop deals with auditory information.

37
Q

What is the evaluation link of the WMM - support from case studies?

A

Supports existence of separate visual and acoustic store making WMM a better model to explain the memory system as opposed to the MSM.

38
Q

What is the evaluation point of the WMM - lack of clarity over the central executive?

A

One weakness is there is a lack of clarity over the central executive component of the WMM.

39
Q

What is the evaluation evidence of the WMM - lack of clarity over the central executive?

A

Eslinger and Damasio (1985) studied patient named EVR who had his cerebral tumour removed and when tested he performed well on tests requiring reasoning however had poor decision-making skills spending hours deciding what he wanted to eat.

40
Q

What is the evaluation explanation of the WMM - lack of clarity over the central executive?

A

As his central executive was not fully intact, the central executive is much more complex than the WMM suggests.

41
Q

What is the evaluation link of the WMM - lack of clarity over the central executive?

A

May consist of several components and not just a single component.