The working memory model Flashcards
What is the Working Memory Model (WMM)? (2 points)
Proposed by Baddeley and Hitch in 1974
Put forward that STM is not just one unitary store but an active processor consisting of multiple stores
What are the 4 components of the WMM?
Phonological loop
Visuospatial sketchpad (VSS)
Central executive
Episodic buffer
Describe the features of the phonological loop in the WMM. (4 points)
Deals with spoken and written material
Limited capacity
Split into 2 sub-systems:
Phonological store - holds a limited amount of verbal information for a few seconds
Articulatory Loop(inner voice) - engages in “sub vocalising”; similar to MSM’s rehearsal loop
Describe the features of the visuo-spatial sketchpad in the WMM. (5 points)
Stores visual and spatial information
Limited capacity
Visual-cache (VS) – stores material on colour and shape
Inner-scribe (IS) – records arrangement of objects in the visual field and allows rehearsal of spatial information
Sets up and changes mental images - allows us to recreate images based on real-time or past events
Describe the features of the central executive in the WMM. (4 points)
Has a very limited capacity
Drives the whole system
Allocates information to other sections
Controls the flow of information
Describe the features of the episodic buffer in the WMM. (3 points)
Added in 2000 - Baddeley realised the original model required reasoning for why some amnesia patients without long-term recall could immediately recall info
Integrates material from all other components to make complete ‘episodes’ for storage in the LTM
Maintains time sequencing - recording events as they happen
What are the 3 supporting and 2 refuting arguments for the WMM?
Supporting:
Baddeley and Hitch’s dual task research
KF case study
Paulesu et al
Refuting:
Central executive
LTM not being a unitary store
Describe Baddeley and Hitch’s dual task research that supports the WMM. (3 points)
Baddeley & Hitch asked participants to do two tasks that would utilise the VSS at the same time
Found that participants were able to perform the tasks separately without any difficulty, but had impaired performances when they did them simultaneously
Both tasks exceeded the limited capacity in the VSS
Describe the KF case study that supports the WMM. (3 points)
Patient KF suffered brain damage in a motorcycle accident
Had problems with verbal information in his STM but memory for visual information was largely unaffected
Supports the existence of separate STM components for visual information (VSS) and verbal information (phonological loop)
How is the KF case study not internally valid? (2 points)
Case study of one person - behaviours and symptoms may be due to participant variables and individual differences rather than a generalised feature of cognition
Provide evidence for the VSS, phonological loop and their limited capacities, although research methods are limited
Describe how Paulesu et al supports the WMM. (3 points)
Found using a PET scan that Broca’s area was active whilst undertaking speech-based memory tasks eg. learning list of words
Parietal lobe was more active in visuospatial tasks eg. Corsi block test
Objective, empirical research provides evidence for WMM’s two separate slave systems
Describe how the concept of the central executive challenges the WMM. (3 points)
Central executive cannot be measured directly - has very limited capacity
Function has to be inferred from the performance of verbal and visual tasks
May never be scientifically falsified - will always remain a WMM concept with limited scientific credibility
Describe how the concept of the LTM not being a unitary store challenges the WMM. (3 points)
Model is simplistic - doesn’t explain the workings and complexity of the LTM
Tulving proposed that there are three different LTM components; semantic, episodic and procedural - WMM doesn’t state this
MSM considers LTM’s processes by including maintenance rehearsal - WMM doesn’t include this so it’s reductionist
