Working Memory Model

• Draw the WMM

  
• Describe the Central executive.

  - The Big Boss of memory (decides where everything goes)

  - Most important component

  - Involved in decision making

  - Limited storage
• Describe the Phonological loop


  The Articulatory control system is an inner voice with limited capacity. The Phonological store is an inner ear (songs/fire alarm/ car engine) and it also has limited capacity.
• Describe the Visual-spatial sketchpad


  The inner eye which sets up and manipulates images. It had limited capacity and involves 2 different stores:

  - Visual cache stores visual data

  - Inner scribe records arrangements of objects
• Describe the episodic buffer


  - Intergrates and manipulates material

  - Limited capacity

  - Binds infomation from different sources into chunks

  - Recalls infomation from LTM and intergrates it into STM
• What are the 2 predictions for the WMM? (Research support)


  1. If 2 tasks use the same component they cannot be performed togehter.

  2. If 2 tasks use different components they can be performed togehter.
• Describe Gathercole and Baddeley's research


  All pps were asked to follow a moving spot with a pointer (visual-spacial sketchpad)

  1/2 of pps had to also describe the angles in the letter 'F' (visual spacial)

  The other 1/2 of pps were asked to recite the 7x tables (phonological)

  PPS in group 1 found it harder because they were using the same component. This proves the existance and limited capacity of the stores.
• Describe KF study

  He suffered brain damage, which ruined his verbal STM but visual STM remained in tact. Showing seperate stores stores for visual and verbal memory.
• Describe the problems with central executive


  - Unclear about its exact function

  - Desposito et al (1995) used FMRI scans, finding the pre frontal cortex is active when both verbal and spatial activites are being peformed at the same time.

  Shows the pre - frontal cortex is involved in the central executive function.
• Describe the positives for a constantly evolving model.


  It provides a more reliable model. The visual spatial sketchpad was split into 2 as blind people have no vision but spatial awareness.
• Describe ACS and Dyslexia


  Dyslexia caused by problems in the phonological store. Phonological deficits observed in dyslexia link with the articulatory control system.