Working Memory Model Flashcards
(14 cards)
What is the function of the Central Executive in memory processing?
Filters information from sensory register and manages slave systems
It has limited capacity and cannot hold information for too long.
What is the capacity of the Central Executive?
4 items at once
This pertains to the limited capacity of the Central Executive in handling information.
What is the Phonological Loop responsible for?
Processes sound and speech-based information
It includes components like articulatory rehearsal and inner voice.
What is the role of the articulatory rehearsal process?
Used to prepare speech and think in words
Example: Memorizing a phone number.
What are the strengths of the Phonological Loop?
Allows processing of a variety of information types
Unlike STM, which only deals with acoustic processing.
What does the word length effect demonstrate?
People recall monosyllabic words better than polysyllabic words
This was shown through Baddeley’s procedure of recalling word lists.
What is the capacity of the Visuo-Spatial Sketchpad?
Approximately 4 items
This is based on studies by Vogel et al. (2000).
What type of information does the Visuo-Spatial Sketchpad code?
Visual information
It involves mental manipulation of visual images.
What does the term ‘Episodic Buffer’ refer to?
A component added by Baddeley in 2000 to the memory model
It integrates information from different sources.
Fill in the blank: The Visuo-Spatial Sketchpad allows rehearsal through the use of _______.
mental pictures
This aids in visual memory processing.
What is a limitation of Baddeley’s model?
It oversimplifies processing and does not account for all types of information
This includes sensory modalities like touch, taste, and smell.
Strength- dual task research (Baddley)
States people can perform 2 tasks at on. E.g. listening to music/talking (phonological loop) and drawing (visuo-spatial sketchpad) Suggests model valid, there are 2 separate stores for different forms of information (e.g. visual, tactile etc) and they are stored in different parts of STM.
Strength- Clive Wearing
Supports that short term memory has separate stores. Suffered brain damage due to a virus infection. He retained short term memory abilities e.g. understanding spoken and written language suggesting the phonological loop was still working. He did however struggle with functions associated with the central executive like focusing attention, and planning. Supports that memory is not a unitary store and that the MSM is reductionist so the WMM is more valid to explain the process of STM.
Different theory- Cognitive Neuroscience
CN: studying cognitive processes and brain activity.
Hippocampus= all memory
PL= temporal lobe
VSS= ocipital lobe (visual), cerebellum (spatial, (balance)), frontal lobe (problem solving)
Research shows STM has different processes because brain scan research has shown that different parts of the brain are active for different activities. Suggests STM is more than one processes.
CA: bio reductionism
