The Working Model of Memory

Question 1

When was the WMM created? By who?

Answer 1

Baddeley and Hitch in 1974.

Question 2

The WMM is an extension of what?

Answer 2

The MSM.

Question 3

Baddeley and Hitch used the term ‘working memory’ to refer to what?

Answer 3

A system involving processing and STM in combination; seeing STM as an active store.

Question 4

What do studies suggests about the contents of STM in working memory?

(The Origins of The Working Model of Memory)

Answer 4

It is highly unlikely that the STM contains only new information.

What seems more likely is that information is retrieved from LTM for use in STM.

Question 5

Outline De Groot’s study from 1966.

(Supports the idea that the LTM is used to aim recall from STM)
(The Origins of The Working Model of Memory)

Answer 5

Supports the idea that the LTM is used to aim recall from STM.

This is because they found that expert chess players have a superb STM for the position of chess pieces on the board, provided they are organised according to the rules of chess.

If organised in a random way, the chess players are no better at recall than non-chess players.

This suggests that information from the LTM about the rules of chess were used to aid recall from STM.

Question 6

Outline Logie et al’s study from 1992.

(Supports the idea STM is easily manipulated by the LTM to hold information actively)
(The Origins of The Working Model of Memory)

Answer 6

Supports the idea STM is easily manipulated by the LTM to hold information actively.

Analysed robbers and police members, concluding that robbers had a better understanding of the layout and positioning of specific objects within a household.

This suggests STM is used to hold information that is being manipulated.

Question 7

What are the 3 components of the WMM?

(The Working Model of Memory)

Answer 7

Central executive, phonological loop, and the visuo-spatial sketchpad.

Question 8

Outline Groome’s study from 1999.

(Supports the idea that STM is an area where stimulus and experience are merged)
(The Origins of The Working Model of Memory)

Answer 8

Supports the idea that STM is an area where stimulus and experience are merged.

This is because they stated that the Working Model is like a computer screen where operations are performed on current data (a mental workspace).

This suggests that LTM resembles a computer’s memory.

This is reinforced by Logie et al’s 1992 study.

Question 9

What is the CE?

(Central executive)
(The Working Model of Memory)

Answer 9

‘The boss’ - unitary store.

A pure attentional system.

Coordinates resources (2 slave systems and the episodic buffer).

Involves higher order mental processes. E.g. decision making, problem solving.

Question 10

How does coding occur in the CE?

(Central executive)
(The Working Model of Memory)

Answer 10

Can process information from any sensory modality. (Modality free).

Question 11

How does the CE rehearse information?

(Central executive)
(The Working Model of Memory)

Answer 11

It is able to selectively pay attention, but also inhibit selectively.

Question 12

What is the capacity of the CE?

(Central executive)
(The Working Model of Memory)

Answer 12

Limited capacity.

Question 13

What is the PL?

(Phonological loop)
(The Working Model of Memory)

Answer 13

Temporary store, holding information in speech-based form (e.g. sound).

Similar to the rehearsal system in the MSM.

Is able to be refocused by the central executive.

Question 14

What is the capacity of the PL?

(Phonological loop)
(The Working Model of Memory)

Answer 14

Lasts 2 seconds; thus capacity is how much you can remember in 2 seconds.

Question 15

When was the PL subdivided?

(Phonological loop)
(The Working Model of Memory)

Answer 15

1986.

Question 16

In 1986, the phonological loop was subdivided into 2 more stores, what were they?

(Phonological loop)
(The Working Model of Memory)

Answer 16

Phonological store, (PS).

Articulatory control system, (ACS).

Question 17

Outline the PS.

(Phonological store)
(Phonological loop)
(The Working Model of Memory)

Answer 17

The “inner ear”.

Stores words recently heard.

Holds information in speech-based form for 1-2 seconds.

Question 18

Outline the ACS.

(Articulatory control system)
(Phonological loop)
(The Working Model of Memory)

Answer 18

The “inner voice”.

Keeps information in the PL through repetition of information and is linked with speech production.

Used to rehearse verbal information from the phonological store.

Memory traces in the phonological store decay in 1.5-2 seconds but can be maintained by articulatory control process.

Question 19

What is the VSS?

(Visuo-Spatial Sketchpad)
(The Working Model of Memory)

Answer 19

The ‘inner eye’.

Specialised for coding spatial and visual information.

Temporary store, used for manipulation of visual pattern and movement.

It helps us to navigate around and interact with our physical environment, with information being coded and rehearsed through the use of mental pictures. E.g. walking, playing sports.

Question 20

When was the VSS subdivided? By who?

(Visuo-Spatial Sketchpad)
(The Working Model of Memory)

Answer 20

1995, by Logie.

Question 21

In 1995, the VSS was subdivided into 2 more stores, what were they?

(Visuo-Spatial Sketchpad)
(The Working Model of Memory)

Answer 21

Visual Cache (VC)

Inner Scribe (IS)

Question 22

Outline the VC.

(Visual cache)
(Visuo-Spatial Sketchpad)
(The Working Model of Memory)

Answer 22

Stores visual material.

Form and colour.

Question 23

Outline the IS.

(Inner scribe)
(Visuo-Spatial Sketchpad)
(The Working Model of Memory)

Answer 23

Handles spatial relationships and rehearses.

Transfers information to VC and CE.

Question 24

What links the slave systems to the central executive?

(The Working Model of Memory)

Answer 24

Rehearsal loops.

Question 25

What links the central executive to the LTM?

(The Working Model of Memory)

Answer 25

Episodic buffer.

Question 26

What is dual tasking?

(Dual Tasking)

Answer 26

Each component has limited capacity, and is relatively independent of the others in its functioning.

If 2 tasks use the same component, they cannot be performed successfully together.

If 2 tasks make use of different components, it should be possible to perform them as well together as separately.

Question 27

Give an example of successful dual tasking.

(Dual Tasking)

Answer 27

E.g. It is easier to listen to music while driving, as you are using the PS to experience the music; but the VSS to aid driving.

Question 28

Give an example of unsuccessful dual tasking.

(Dual Tasking)

Answer 28

E.g. It is difficult to read a book and sing a song at the same time, as you are reading with help from your ACS, but must also speak aloud from what is being received from the PS.

Question 29

Outline D’esposito’s study from 1996.

(Supports the existence of the CE)
(Central Executive AO3 Research)

Answer 29

Supports the existence of the CE.

This is because fMRI scans showed that the prefrontal cortex was activated when verbal and spatial tasks were performed simultaneously, but not when separate.

This suggests that the brain area is associated with the workings of the CE.

Question 30

Outline Baddeley’s study from 1996.

(Supports the existence of the CE)
(Central Executive AO3 Research)

Answer 30

Supports the existence of the CE.

This is because he discovered participants found it difficult to generate lists of random numbers while simultaneously switching between pressing numbers and letters on a keyboard.

This suggests the 2 tasks were competing for the CE’s resources.

Question 31

Outline Baddeley, Chincotta, and Adlam’s study from 2002.

(Challenges the importance of the CE)
(Central Executive AO3 Research)

Answer 31

Challenges the importance of the CE.

This is because they studied the capacity to switch rapidly between divergent tasks; a process they initial assumed depended crucially on the CE, but in fact was dealt with better by the PL.

This criticises the role of the CE, as the control of action may extend beyond the CE (to the PL) in some instances.

Question 32

Outline KF’s study from 1970.

(Supports the existence of the PL)
(Phonological Loop AO3 Research)

Answer 32

Supports the existence of the PL.

This is because he could remember words presented visually but not auditorily.

This suggests that his PL was damaged, and thus exists.

Question 33

Outline Baddeley et al’s study from 1975.

(Supports the existence of the PL)
(Phonological Loop AO3 Research)

Answer 33

Supports the existence of the PL.

This is because they reported on the word length effect, where participants recalled more short words in serial order, than longer words.

This aids the idea that capacity in the PL is set by how long it takes to say words, rather than the actual number of words.

Question 34

Outline Saeki’s study from 2007.

(Challenges the contribution that the phonological loop has with assisting interference from the physical presentation of information)
(Phonological Loop AO3 Research)

Answer 34

Challenges the contribution that the phonological loop has with assisting interference from the physical presentation of information.

This is because it was found that the effects of articulatory suppression did not interact with size congruity.

This disagrees with the idea that the phonological loop is able to aid with the interpretation of varying information’s at differing reaction times.

Question 35

Outline Klaner and Zhao’s study from 2004.

(Supports the existence of the IS and the VC)
(Visuospatial Sketchpad AO3 Research)

Answer 35

Supports the existence of the IS and the VC.

This is because they reported more interference between a visual and spatial tasks.

This suggests the existence of a separate VC and IS.

Question 36

Outline Gathercode and Baddeley’s study from 1993.

(Supports the existence of the VSS)
(Visuospatial Sketchpad AO3 Research)

Answer 36

Supports the existence of the VSS.

This is because they found PPs had difficulty simultaneously tracking a moving point of light and describing the angles on a hollow letter ‘F’.

This indicates the VSS to be a separate slave system.

Question 37

Outline Lieberman’s study from 1980.

(Challenges the VSS)
(Visuospatial Sketchpad AO3 Research)

Answer 37

Challenges the VSS.

This is because they pointed out that blind people have spatial memory (they can remember where things are and not bump into them) even though they have never had any visual information.

It was suggested that the VSS should have two different components: visual memory and spatial memory.

As Baddeley and Hitch’s WMM is updatable - this was able to be catered for, through the IS and the VC; showing that validity can be increased by adapting models (strength for the WMM).

Question 38

Outline Alkhalifa’s study from 2009.

(Supports the existence of an EB)
(Episodic Buffer AO3 Research)

Answer 38

Supports the existence of an EB.

This is because a report on a patient with a severely impaired LTM who demonstrated STM capacity 25 prose items, far exceeding the capacity of the PL and the VSS.

This suggests the existence of an EB, which holds items in working memory until they are recalled.

Question 39

Outline Prabhakaran et al’s study from 2000.

(Supports the EB with biological evidence)
(Episodic Buffer AO3 Research)

Answer 39

Supports the EB with biological evidence.

This is because they used fMRI scans to find greater right-frontal brain activation for combined verbal and spatial information, but greater posterior activation for non-combined information.

This suggests a temporary storage of integrated information.

Question 40

Outline Baddeley’s study from 2000.

(Challenges the importance of the EB)
(Episodic Buffer AO3 Research)

Answer 40

Challenges the importance of the EB.

This is because they stated that there is an “immediate need to assess its boundaries”.

He questioned ‘why not assign all memory to the episodic buffer?’.

This indicated that the sequential next step should be to draw a clear line between the two slave systems of the WM and the EB.

This suggests that the newly introduced component showed be understood and used correctly before application.