4. WMM

• What is the Working Model of Memory?

  • A representation of STM
  • Suggests STM is a dynamic processor of different types of information using sub units co-ordinated by a central decision making system
• State the four main components of the WMM

  • Central Executive
  • Phonological Loop
  • Visuo-spatial Sketchpad
  • Episodic Buffer
• What is the Central Executive?


  • Coordinates the activities of three subsystems in memory
  • Manages attention and control information from 2 slave stones: PL and VSS
  • Coding: All sensory forms
  • Capacity: One strand of info at a time
• What is the Phonological Loop?


  • Temporarily retains language-based info in auditory form
  • Divided into articulatory process (allows maintenance rehearsal, including any language presented visually then converted into phonological state) + phonological store (holds auditory speech info in order in which it's heard)
  • Coding: Auditory
  • Capacity: Amount of information that can be spoken out in 2 seconds
• What is the Visuo-Spatial Sketchpad?


  • Process visual and spatial information in a mental space called the inner eye
  • Coding: Visual and spatial
  • Capacity: 3-4 objects
• What is the Episodic Buffer?


  • Brings together material from other subsystems into a single memory rather than separate strands
  • Acts as a bridge between working memory and long term memory
  • Coding: all sensory forms
  • Capacity: 4 chunks of information
• Why was the WMM created?


  To overcome the criticism of the MSM that it over-simplified STM
• What is the difference between the Central Executive and the Episodic Buffer?

  • CE is the sorter. Information arrives after the CE has paid attention and control where info is going (PL or VSS)
  • EB is the link between the CE and LTM. It also holds info together and remembers the sequence of info
• Working Model of Memory evaluation


  • KF research support (PL damaged, VSS was not)
  • Brain scan studies - prefrontal cortex (Braver)
  • Cannot be generalised to the wider population
  • Cognitive psychologists - lack of clarity of CE