Working Memory Model

Question 1

Outline working memory model.

Answer 1

-A reformulation of short term memory. It views it as an active functional dynamic multi component processor (can work on something whilst simultaneous holding information)
-Does not attempts to describe the SR or LTM

Question 2

What is the structure of WMM?

Answer 2

⇙ Central executive ⇘
Phonological Visuo- Spatial SP
loop ⇅
Episodic buffer
⇅
Long term storage

Question 3

What are the features of central executive?

Answer 3

Controls the other ‘slave’ components and decides which component is required for the task.
• Involved in planning, problem solving and decision making.
• Decides what the Working Memory pays ATTENTION to.

Question 4

What is the capacity of the central executive?

Answer 4

-Limited to no storage capacity- the central executive cannot attend to too many things at once and has no capacity for storing data

Question 5

What is coding for central executives?

Answer 5

flexible as each sense is coded differently

Question 6

What does the phonological loop process?

Answer 6

Processes sound based acoustic information

Question 7

what are the two subdivisions of the phonological loop?

Answer 7

-primary acoustic store
-Articulatory process

Question 8

what are the features of the phonological loop?

Answer 8

-Inner Ear
-Holds Info in speech based form in temporal order
-1-2 seconds

Question 9

What are the features of the primary acoustic store?

Answer 9

-linked to speech perception
-Receives auditory information and remembers sounds in the order they were presented

Question 10

What are the features of the articulatory process?

Answer 10

-Linked to speech production
-It is used to prepare sounds and speech by using rehearsal

Question 11

what is the capacity for the phonological loop?

Answer 11

Limited capacity (2 seconds worth of what you can say)

Question 12

what is the coding for the phonological loop?

Answer 12

Codes of information acoustically

Question 13

What does the visual spatial sketchpad do?

Answer 13

Processes, visual information

Question 14

What can the visual spatial sketchpad be subdivided into?

Answer 14

-Visual Cache
-Inner scribe

Question 15

what is the visual cache do?

Answer 15

Stores material about form and colour

Question 16

What does the inner scribe do?

Answer 16

-handles spatial relationships (holds information about where an object is)
-Like following a map in our heads

Question 17

what is the capacity for the visual spatial sketchpad?

Answer 17

Limited capacity (3-4 objects)

Question 18

what is the coding for the visuo spatial sketchpad?

Answer 18

codes information visually

Question 19

What else does the articulatory control process do?

Answer 19

-Inner sub vocal rehearsal of speech based info
-Convert written words to verbal

Question 20

what does the episodic buffer do?

Answer 20

-Pulls together strands of information from the phonological loop and the visuo spatial sketchpad (creates coherent memory)
-provides temporary storage of information
-Controlled by the central executive
-Plays an important role retrieving information from long-term memory

Question 21

What is the capacity for the episodic buffer?

Answer 21

-temporary storage system
-Limited capacity of about four chunks

Question 22

What does neurocognitive support mean?

Answer 22

When you have identified specific brain structures that are responsible for specific behaviours

Question 23

what are the differences between multi store model and working memory model?

Answer 23

-Processing an MSM is passive or as processing information in WMM is active (can hold info, whilst simultaneously processing other info
-STM in MSM is one component (unitary) where STM in WMM is a multi component structure (Not unitary)
-Information in MSM passes in fixed order (linear) whereas there is interchange between components and the WMM and no fixed order
-In the MSM coding in STM is acoustic where is in the WMM coding in STM is acoustic and visual