The Working Memory Model Flashcards
What is the WMM
The working memory model (WMM) is a representation of how short-term memory is organised and how it functions. It suggests that STM is an active processor of different types of information using sub-units that are coordinated by a central decision-making system.
Who suggested the WMM
Baddeley and Hitch (1974)
Features of the central executive
Function: coordinating the other 3 slave systems and takes in info from the STM
Capacity: NO storage capacity + VERY LOW processing capacity
Coding: from any sensory modality
Visuo-spatial sketchpad features
Function: processes and temporarily sores visual-spatial info
Capacity: 3-4 items
Coding: visual
Sub-components: visual cache -> visual info , inner scribe -> spatial info
Phonological loop features
Function: processes and temporarily stores sound-based info and maintains order of sound info that enters, for spoken or written language
Capacity: 2 seconds of spoken language
Coding: acoustic
Sub-components: phonological store -> sound info , articulatory process -> inner voice (for maintenance rehearsal)
Episodic buffer features
Function: integrates visual, spatial and sound info into a single memory and maintained time sequencing, and sends info to the LTM
Capacity: 4 chunks
Supporting evidence - case of KF and what it shows
Shallice and Warrington’s (1970) case study was of a patient, KF, who had suffered brain damage. After this damage, KF had poor STM ability for verbal information, but could be process visual information i.e. he had difficulty with sounds but recall letters and digits shown to him.
This suggests that just his phonological loop had been damaged as he couldn’t process verbal information leaving other areas of memory intact e.g. The visuo-spatial sketchpad as he could still process visual information. This supports the existence of a separate visual and acoustic store and therefore that there are multiple components of STM that are qualitatively different as proposed by the WMM.
(unique - counter argument)
Supporting evidence - dual tasks and what it shows
Studies of dual-task performance support the existence of the visuo-spatial sketchpad. Baddeley et al. (1975) found that participants had more difficulty doing two visual tasks (tracking a light and describing the letter F) than doing a visual and verbal task at the same time. This increased difficulty is because both visual tasks compete for the same slave system, whereas when doing a verbal and visual task simultaneously, there is no competition.
Supporting evidence - Braver et al. and what it shows
Braver et al. (1997) gave their participants a task that involved the central executive while they were having a brain scan. They found greater activity in the prefrontal cortex and that this activity increased as the task got harder.
This makes a lot of sense in terms of the WMM – as the demands on the central executive increase, it has to work harder to fulfil its function. This supports the existence of the central executive as a supervisory component as proposed by the WMM.
Weakness - unsatisfactory explanation and what it shows
Cognitive psychologists suggest that the central executive is unsatisfactory and doesn’t really explain anything. Baddeley himself recognised that the central executive is the most important but least understood component of the WMM. It needs to be more clearly specified than just being simply ‘attention.’ For example, some psychologists believe it may consist of separate components.
This means that the WMM hasn’t been fully explained.
