Evaluation of Working Memory Model (8 Marks)

Question 1

Evidence to support the Working Memory Model? - (PET Scans)

Answer 1

• Point: PET scans have shown evidence of spatial and visual systems
• Evidence: Klauer and Zhao (2004) → found performance on the spatial task to be much more poorer for people carrying out the spatial distractor task compared to people who where doing the visual and visual distractor task
  -Explain: It shows that different parts of the brain are being used for different versions of information → therefore different stores are being used

Question 2

Evidence to support the working memory model? - (Seitz and Schuman)

Answer 2

• Point: Seitz and Schuman → Hengster conducted an experiment that proved that visual and verbal information are processed separately
• Example: Conducted an experiment → they introduced 2 different sources of interference to demonstrate the 2 stores of the model. → Participants were asked to carry out a mathematical task which involved doing multiplication sums then the task was disrupted by 2 interference tasks
• Explain: Only the speech interfered with the task, which suggests that visual and verbal information are processed separately

Question 3

Applications and implications of society of working memory model? - (Dyselexia)

Answer 3

• Point: Dyslexia can affect either the phonological loop or the visuo-spatial scratchpad → strategies can be put into place. Example listening to an audio book as an alternative to reading
  -Examples: WMM applies to real life tasks such as reading (phonological loop) problem solving (central executive) navigation (visual spatial processing)
  -Explain: Research has been developed through abstraction experiments. → specific ones such as reading has been criticized for lacking validity. → It is not clear how much of the model deals with more every day experience of what form transferring WMM to LTM is like.

Question 4

Applications and implications to society of the working memory model? - (Alzheimer)

Answer 4

• Point: Patients with Alzheimer’s disease have shown decreased central executive functions as the disease progresses.
• Evidence: Baddeley conducted a series of dual tasks experiments on young and elderly Alzheimer patients using verbal and visual tasks together or separately
• Explain: Showed significant impairment when trying to use them both together. → The central executive is responsible for both parts → therefore this impairment demonstrates significant problems with executive functioning.

Question 5

Credibility and comparisons of the working memory model? - (H.M)

Answer 5

• Point:The WMM explains STM in detail whilst the Multi store Model. STM is presented as much simpler
• Evidence: HM suffered a gross impairment in his spatial memory with a relatively unaffected STM for verbal information. → STM is presented much simpler
  -Explain: → This supports the idea that WMM has two subsystems to deal with verbal and visuospatial information independently. → It gives us a good understanding of the structure and the process → therefore has better application unlike the MSM which could be seen as over-simplified.

Question 6

Credibility and comparisons of the working memory model? - (Shallice and Warrington)

Answer 6

• Point: The WMM explains STM in detail whilst the Multi store Model. STM is presented as much simpler
• Evidence:KFC (Shallice and Warrington) 1974 → who suffered STM impairment following a motorbike accident, damage his parietal lobe
• Explain:He had a digital span of one → suggested a gross impairment in his phonological store but his visual memory was intact.

Question 7

How good is the research of the working memory model?

Answer 7

• Point: The use of PET scans are a good way of investigating the WMM → shows where the brain is more active during different tasks
• Evidence: PET scans have provided evidence for separate spatial and visual systems. There appears to be more activity in the left half of the brain → as it carry out visual working memory tasks than the right side of the brain during the spatial task
• Explain: This allows us to see different stores being used as the activity in different parts of the brain. e.g people tend to use the right side of the brain for spatial tasks.