The Working Memory Model

Question 1

What is the WMM?

Answer 1

A model of STM detailing how it’s organised and functions. It suggests it is an active store, and that it consists of 3 slave systems.

Question 2

What is the Central Executive?

Answer 2

An attentional system that monitors incoming information, filters it and allocates tasks to the 3 slave systems, overseeing their activity

Question 3

What are the 3 Slave Systems of The WMM?

Answer 3

• The Visual-Spatial Sketchpad
• The Phonological Loop
• The Episodic Buffer

Question 4

What is the role of the Visual-Spatial Sketchpad?

Answer 4

It processes and stores visual and spatial information, and is used to visualise

Question 5

What is the role of The Phonological Loop?

Answer 5

It is a sound-based store that processes auditory information. It is subdivided into two parts

Question 6

What is role of the Episodic Buffer?

Answer 6

It integrates the information processed by the other stores into one singular memory, instead of separate strands

Question 7

What case study supports the idea of there being separate stores of STM?

Answer 7

KF, as his Phonological Loop appeared to be damaged, but his VSS intact

Question 8

What is the capacity of the Central Executive, and how does this affect it?

Answer 8

It has a very limited capacity, and so doesn’t store information itself, but rather assigns it to the three slave systems

Question 9

What is the Phonological Loop subdivided into?

Answer 9

• The Phonological Store
• The Articulatory Process

Question 10

What is the role of the Phonological Store?

Answer 10

It stores sound-based information, such as speech

Question 11

What is the role of the Articulatory Process?

Answer 11

It allows for maintenance rehearsal (the internal repetition of words in a loop)

Question 12

What does the Episodic Buffer act as a bridge between, and how does this affect it?

Answer 12

STM and LTM, meaning it is a timestamped, temporary store

Question 13

How many features of the WMM are there?

Answer 13

4

Question 14

What is the capacity of the WMM?

Answer 14

Limited

Question 15

Who proposed the WMM?

Answer 15

Baddeley & Hitch

Question 16

How is the VSS encoded?

Answer 16

In a visual and spatial form

Question 17

How is the Phonological Loop encoded?

Answer 17

In an auditory form

Question 18

Which scientific method supports the idea that there are different STM stores, as according to the WMM?

Answer 18

Brain scans

Question 19

Which studies support the idea that there are different STM stores and why?

Answer 19

• Baddeley’s studies of dual-task performance
• They demonstrate that it is far more difficult to perform two tasks simultaneously that share a system (e.g. texting and talking), than two that don’t (e.g. looking at photos and talking)

Question 20

Why has the Central Executive been criticised for not being a satisfactory component of the model?

Answer 20

It isn’t fully understood and little is known about it, with it being vaguely defined as an ‘attentional system’

Question 21

Why can supporting studies of dual-task performance be criticised?

Answer 21

For their use of meaningless, artificial materials and situations, meaning they lack mundane realism and have low ecological validity, as they don’t reflect how STM is engaged in everyday life

Question 22

What is the capacity of the Phonological Loop?

Answer 22

2 seconds worth of auditory information

Question 23

What is the capacity of the Visual-Spatial Sketchpad?

Answer 23

Approximately 3-4 objects

Question 24

What is the capacity of the Episodic Buffer, and why?

Answer 24

Limited, as it acts as a bridge between STM and LTM