STM (working)

• working memory model (central executive) slave driver

  Supervisory component w overall control of working memory

  limited capacity - doesn’t store info

  moniters info coming in from dif sources

  decides what to pay attention to

  allocates tasks to dif slave systems

  directs info to slave components
• Phonological loop: phonological store

  (Inner voice) holds words that are heard and stores auditory info

  capacity - length of time it takes to say the words : polysyllabic is harder to remember
• Phonological loop: articulatory process


  Preparing what you’re about to say

  Capacity - 2 secs worth of what you’re about to say
• Visuo spatial sketchpad


  (Inner eye) stores visual and spatial info(like visualising your house). Limited capacity- 3-4 (Baddeley 2003)

  2 subsystems: the visual cache stores visual data like images

  Inner scribe: records the arrangement of objects in visual field (where they are). -is a process that allows you to rehearse visual info to maintain it in visual cache
• WMM: episodic buffer (2000)


  Temporary store that integrates acoustic, visual and spatial info processes by other subsystems

  Maintains a sense of time sequencing

  limited capacity of four chunks (Baddeley 2012)

  combines info from other subsystems w long term memory and links to wider cognitive processes like perception
• WMM support lab experiment (1975)


  Baddeley found participants performing verbal and visual tasks together have same performance when carried out separately

  When 2 visual tasks done, both declined - Bevsuse they compete for same slave system; dif ones have no competition
• Lack of clarity on central executive


  2003 Baddeley recognises it needs to be specified as more than just ‘attention’. Suspects it consists of dif subcomponents like a conscious supervisory attentional process and an unconscious automatic process. Means WMM hasn’t been fully explained
• Application to amnesia

  Shallice and Warrington 1970 conducted case study on patient KF who had amnesia after brain injury. Poor short term memory for auditory info but could process visual

  SO amnesia is not exactly ‘global’ that affects all functioning - its exact function can be explained by WMM
• Competing argument

  Patients like KF are unique and not typical to wider population so case studies are difficult to replicate and we can’t be sure findings are valid.

  doesn’t mean we should dismiss evidence but should be cautious in generalising findings
• WMM application

  Model helps children w dyslexia/deficits w working :model can provide practical suggestions to help eg chunking and frequent repetition