Working memory model

• Wmm diagram 1974

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• Central executive

  Controls and coordinates the two slave systems. It receives information from the sensory senses or from out long term memory and makes a decision about what slave system to assign the information to. It is involved in carrying out complex high level mental tasks. It has a limited storage capacity so it does not store information.
• The phonological loop


  A slave system that deal with temporary storage of auditory information. It is divided into two components. The first component is the phonological store (inner ear). It deals with perception of sounds and holds information for 1-2 seconds. It relies on acoustic encoding for storage. The second component is the articulatory rehearsal system (inner voice.) It has a limited capacity and it is used to hold verbal information to keep them in the phonological store whilst they are needed. It is believed to only hold 2 seconds worth of information.
• The visuo-spatial sketchpad

  Its another slave system of the WWM which temporary holds visual and spatial information for a very short time. It is also thought to have a very small capacity of about 3-4 objects. It is sub-divided into two components, the first being the visual cache. This stores visual information and the seconds being the inner scribe. This records the arrangement of objects in front of you and allows for the rehearsal of visual and spatial information to maintain in the visual cache.
• Episodic Buffer 


  Most recent to the WMM, added in the (2000's). It is a temporary store which integrates the acoustic, visual and spatial information processed by the slave systems. It also maintains a sense of time sequencing. It combines information from working memory with LTM and links to a wider cognitive processes such as perception. It has a limited capacity of about 4 chunks.