AO1 - Working Memory Model

• There are four separate components in the working memory model: the central executive, the phonological loop, the visuo-spatial sketch pad, and the episodic buffer.
• The central executive is involved in problem solving, decision-making, attention control, planning, and synthesising information.
• The phonological loop stores speech-based sounds for brief periods and consists of the phonological store and the articulatory control process.
• The visuo-spatial sketch pad stores visual and spatial information and is responsible for setting up and manipulating mental images.
• The episodic buffer integrates and manipulates material, binds information from different sources ready for LTM.
• The episodic buffer relies heavily on executive processing and is responsible for recalling material from long-term memory and integrating it into working memory.
• The working memory model focuses on STM as an active process.
• The working memory model was devised by Baddeley & Hitch (1974).
• The episodic buffer was added later in the year 2000.
• The Central Executive manages attention, and controls information from the two ‘slave stores’
• The Phonological Store (‘inner ear’), holds auditory speech for a short duration in STM.
• The articulatory control process (‘inner voice’) takes language and converts it for storage in the phonological loop.
• The articulatory control process allows maintenance rehearsal (repetition).
• The capacity of the articulatory control loop is believed to be about two seconds.
• The visuo-spatial sketch pad is also called the visual cache, which store information. It also has an inner scribe for recording information.
• Baddeley (2000) added the episodic buffer as a temporary store before information passes into LTM.