C2 - Working memory model

Question 1

Central executive

Answer 1

Supervisory role - monitors incoming data, directs attention & allocates subsytems to tasks. Very limited storage capacity

Question 2

Phonological loop

Answer 2

Deals with auditory info & preserves order in which info arrives
Phonological store - stores words you hear
Articulatory process - allows maintenance rehearsal

Question 3

Visuo-spatial sketchpad

Answer 3

Stores visual/spatial info when required
Visual cache - stores visual data
Inner scribe - records arrangement of objects in visual field

Question 4

Episodic buffer

Answer 4

• Temporary store for info
• Integrates visual, spatial & verbal info from other stores
• Maintains sense of time sequencing
• Links to LTM

Question 5

Evaluations of WMM (SSL)

Answer 5

S - Support from clinical evidence
S - Dual task performance studies support VSS
L - Lack of clarity over central executive

Question 6

S - Support from clinical evidence

Answer 6

• Shallice & Warrington studied KF who had brain injury
• STM for auditory info was poor (damaged PL) but could process visual info normally (intact VSS)
• Supports WMM view that there are separate visual & acoustic memory stores

Question 7

S - Dual task performance studies support VSS

Answer 7

• Baddeley et al’s pts found it harder to carry out 2 visual tasks at same time than do a verbal & visual together
• Both visual tasks compete for same subsystem (VSS). No competition with verbal & visual task
• Must be a separate subsystem that processes visual input (VSS) & verbal processes (PL)

Question 8

L - Lack of clarity over central executive

Answer 8

• Baddeley said CE most important but least understood
• There must be more to CE than being ‘attention’
• CE is an unsatisfactory component, challenging integrity of model