The Working Memory Model Flashcards
What do Baddeley and Hitch (1974) argue about the Multi-Store Model?
It provides a far too simple picture of short-term memory.
How does the Working Memory Model differ from the Multi-Store Model?
The Working Memory Model is a multi-component system that can retain and process information.
What are the components of the Working Memory Model?
- Central Executive
- Phonological Loop
- Visuospatial Sketchpad
- Episodic Buffer
What is the role of the Central Executive in the Working Memory Model?
It drives the whole system, allocates data to subsystems, and deals with cognitive tasks.
What is the capacity of the Central Executive?
Very limited and does not store information.
What type of information does the Visuospatial Sketchpad store and process?
Information in a visual or spatial form.
What is the capacity of the Visuospatial Sketchpad according to Logie (1995)?
3-4 objects.
What are the two subdivisions of the Visuospatial Sketchpad?
- Visual Cache
- Inner Scribe
What does the Phonological Loop deal with?
Spoken and written material.
What are the two components of the Phonological Loop?
- Phonological Store
- Articulatory Control Process
What is the duration of information storage in the Phonological Store?
About 2 seconds.
What is the main purpose of the Central Executive?
To sift, sort, and combine information until decisions are reached.
What does the Articulatory Control Process allow us to do?
Rehearse and produce speech.
Fill in the blank: The Visuospatial Sketchpad is used for _______.
[navigation]
True or False: The Central Executive is modality-specific.
False
What is the capacity of the Phonological Loop?
Limited, about 3-4 chunks.
What does the Episodic Buffer do?
Provides a temporary store for information received by the Central Executive.
What type of information does the Central Executive link to wider cognitive processes?
Information from Long-Term Memory.
What is the function of the Episodic Buffer?
A general store that integrates information from all other stores and relates visual and auditory information
The Episodic Buffer maintains the sequencing of time.
What research method did Baddeley and Hitch use to provide evidence for the existence of the central executive?
Dual task performance studies
The first task occupied the central executive and the second task involved either the articulatory loop or both the central executive and articulatory loop.
What were the findings regarding KF from the case studies?
KF suffered brain damage affecting his short-term memory primarily for verbal information
His memory for visual information was largely unaffected, supporting the theory of separate STM components.
What does the word length effect demonstrate?
It shows that it is harder to remember longer words
This provides evidence for the duration and existence of the phonological loop.
What limitations are associated with the case studies used in evaluating the Working Memory Model?
They are idiographic and cannot be generalized
This means findings from individual cases may not apply to the general population.
What does the case study of EVR suggest about the central executive?
Our knowledge of the central executive may be limited
EVR performed well on reasoning tasks but had poor decision-making skills.
