Memory: The Working model of memory Flashcards
What is the WMM?
An explanation for STM based on 4 components – some with storage capacity
Who proposed the WMM?
Baddeley + Hitch (1974)
What did Baddeley + Hitch base their model from?
Studies that used interference tasks
What are the 4 main components in the WMM?
Central executive
Episodic Buffer
Phonological loop
Visuo-spatial sketchpad
What does the central executive do?
4 points
-Supervises + coordinates info to + from the slave systems.
-It can perform dual tasks (audio + visual/spatial).
-Decides which pieces of info to focus on also deals with cognitive tasks such as mental arithmetic + problem solving.
-Very limited capacity.
What does the episodic buffer do?
A temporary store that integrates info from the components + maintains a sense of time so that events can occur in a continuing sequence.
Can hold info from LTM temporarily.
What does the phonological loop do?
Encodes speech + sound.
Involves maintenance rehearsal
How many subdivisions of the phonological loop are there + what are they called?
2
The phonological store (inner ear)
The articulatory process (inner voice)
What does the phonological store (inner ear) do?
Linked to speech perception + stores info in speech-based form (e.g. spoken words) from 1-2 secs
What does the articulatory process (inner voice) do?
Linked to speech production – subconsciously rehearses words that are heard or seen (from the phonological store) by playing them as a loop. It may also store this info+ has a limited capacity
What does the visuo-spatial sketchpad do?
Encodes visual info
How many subdivisions of the visuo-spatial are there + what are they called?
2
Visual cache (stores info)
Inner scribe (spatial relations)
What does the visual cache do?
Temporarily stores form + colour info
What does the inner scribe do?
Stores the arrangement of objects in the visual field
What did Baddeley + Hitch base their model from?
Studies that used interference tasks
