Working Memory Model

Question 1

Overview of the WMM

Answer 1

• STM is not one store but multiple components
• each component has a different task
• 2 tasks can be completed simultaneously as long as they use different components

Question 2

Central executive

Answer 2

• control unit
• responsible for range of control processes
• co-ordinating the activity needed to carry out more than one process at a time
• processes all sensory forms
• switches attention between tasks

Question 3

Phonological loop

Answer 3

Split into the articulatory process & the primary acoustic store

A.P
- words can be maintained by sub-vocal repetition
- speech production
- limited capacity
- temporary storage system

P.A.S
- temporary storage system for heard words
- speech perception
- limited capacity

Question 4

Visio-spatial sketchpad

Answer 4

• spatial / visual coding
• interact and navigate the environment
• limited capacity
• temporary memory system

Question 5

Episodic buffer

Answer 5

• facilitates communication between the central executive and the LTM

Question 6

Dual task studies

Answer 6

Shows that if one store is used for multiple tasks, then task performance is poorer than when they are completed separately, due to the stores limited capacity

Question 7

Evaluate the WMM

Answer 7

• more plausible than the MSMM, explains STM is terms of both temporary storage and active processing
• explain real life memory
• shows that the STM is multiple stores, detailed
• don’t offer complete understanding of how M works; only involves STM
• central executive role is unclear
• research generated is artificial tasks, validity issues