Working model of memory (WMM)- for the STM

Question 1

Briefly explain the WMM

Answer 1

Alternative explanation for memory and emphasises the importance of processing (how well we remember information)
-not a unitary store but is an active system where mental tasks are carried out on a conscious level.

Question 2

what is the central executive in the WMM

Answer 2

-responsible for problem solving and decision making to correctly direct certain slave systems for a particular task and which information requires attention.

-can encode information from all senses (e.g. visual and auditory)

-very limited capacity so it has to pass information to a slave system to deal with new incoming information.

Question 3

what is the phonological loop in the WMM

Answer 3

-processes auditory information into 2 subsystems: Phonological store (inner ear) = understands and stores sounds we hear in a speech based form, Articulatory control process (inner voice) = verbal rehearsal device used to rehearse words and words heard

-encodes information in an auditory form

-limited capacity

Question 4

what is the visuo-spatial sketchpad (inner eye) in the WMM

Answer 4

-split into 2 subsystems: visual cache = temporary visual store for information of things we see, inner scribe = visual rehearsal device used to rehearse spatial information about how objects relate to each other.

-encoding is in a visual and spatial form (what things look like and hoe they are related to eachother)

-limited capacity

Question 5

what is the episodic buffer in the WMM

Answer 5

-temporary store for integrating the visual, spatial and visual information processed by other stores and maintaining a sense of time sequencing (recording episodes as they happen)

-limited capacity of about 4 chunks

-coded visually, verbally and spatially

-links working memory to LTM and wider cognitive processes (e.g perception)

Question 6

one strength of the WMM (evaluation)

Answer 6

Shallice and Warringtons study of KF’s brain injury. He had poor STM ability for auditory information but could still process visual information normally. This shows that his phonological loop was damaged but his visuo-spatial sketchpad was still intact. This supports the existence of separate visual and acoustic memory store which is shown in the WMM.

Question 7

one limitation of the WMM
(evaluation)

Answer 7

one limitation is the nature of the central executive.
There is a lack of clarity over the nature of the Central executive. Braddley stated that the CE is the most important but least understood component of the WMM. The CE needs to be more clearly specified than just attention as it is seen to be an unsatisfactory component, which challenges to integrity of the WMM.