Working Memory Model

Question 1

What is the Working Memory Model?

Answer 1

• A representation of STM.
• Suggests that ASTM is a dynamic processor of different types of information using sub units coordinated by a central decision making system.

Question 2

Baddeley and Hitch’s Explanation of the Working Memory Model

Answer 2

• Argued that MSM was too simple and proposed WMM as and alternative explanation.
• Instead of info going into one single STM store, it is processed by different stores known as slave systems.
• Model stemmed from dual task experiments.
• Researchers discovered that people are able to do one visual and one verbal task at the same time without any interference but when they performed two verbal or two visual tasks at the same time performance was worse.
• Suggests there is one store for visual processing and a separate store for auditory.

Question 3

What are the four components of the WMM?

Answer 3

1. Central Executive
2. Phonological loop (phonological store+articulatory control system)
3. Visuo Spatial Sketchpad (visual cache+inner scribe)
4. Episodic Buffer

Question 4

Central Executive

Answer 4

• Main component of the WMM.
• Decides attention.
• Modality free - can process information from any of the senses,
• Referred to as the boss - controls other 3 components. and delegates tasks appropriately.
• Active when dealing with tasks such as mental arithmetic, decision making and problem solving.
• Allocates processing resources to above activities.
• No storage capacity and can only pay attention to a limited number of stimuli.

Question 5

Phonological Loop

Answer 5

• Deals with auditory information and preserves order of info.
• Rehearse key points.
• Contributes to learning sounds of language.
• Accesses LTM to store and retrieve info about language sounds.
• Allows us to develop our vocab as children and in foreign language as adults.
• 2 parts
  1. Phonological Store- referred to as inner ear. Stores words you hear for 2 seconds. Considered as a passive store as it stores information in spoken words.
  2. Articulatory control system - referred to as inner voice. Allows for maintenance rehearsal. Capicity is said to be 2 seconds.

Question 6

Visuo Spacial Sketchpad

Answer 6

• Stores and manipulates visual and spatial information.
• Can access LTM to retrieve visuo spatial information.
• Limited Capacity.
• 2 parts
  1. Visual cache - stores visual information about form and colour.
  2. Inner scribe - records arrangement of objects. Rehearses and transfers info to Central Executive.

Question 7

Episodic Buffer

Answer 7

• Later added to WMM as Baddeley realised he needed a general store.
• Integrates visual, spatial and verbal information.
• Maintains a sense of time sequencing.
• Storage component of the Central Execuitve.
• Limited capacity of about 4 chunks.
• Links working memory to LTM and wider cognitive processes such as perception.

Question 8

Evaluation of WMM - Clinical Evidence

Answer 8

• Model is supported by patients with brain damage.
• KF who suffered a brain injury during a motorcycle accident could remember little digits when read aloud (verbal), but had no issues with recall when the words were written down. (visual). Suggests that KF’s phonological loop was damaged but his visuo spatial sketchpad remained intact.
• Strength - provides real life evidence for existence of separate visual and auditory stores in the STM.

Question 9

Evaluation of WMM - Dual Task Experiments

Answer 9

• Supported by dual task experiments.
• Baddeley et al asked participants to track a light whilst imagining block capital letters. (two visual tasks). Found that participants did significantly worse than when they were asked to track a light and do a verbal task. Suggests that the 2 verbal tasks increased difficulty is due to both visual tasks competing for the same slave system. where has doing a verbal and a visual at the same time there is no competition.
• Strength - supports idea of separate slave systems for processing visual and audible information.

Question 10

Evaluation of WMM - Musical Memory

Answer 10

• Cannot account for musical memory.
• Berz found that participants could listen to instrumental music without impairing performance on other acoustic tasks. Suggests that 2 auditory tasks can be completed at the same time despite the WMM stating that this is not possible as they use the same store.
• Weakness - according to WMM we would expect participants to be unable to complete both tasks as they use the same store, undermining a key component of the WMM.

Question 11

Evaluation of WMM - Lack of Clarity over Central Executive

Answer 11

• Central executive is described weakly and does not really explain anything.
• All we know is that the CE is the boss of the system and divides attention. Suggests that more research needs to be conducted into the WMM for us to understand how the component works fully.
• Weakness - questions the usefulness of one of the main parts of the model.