A01

• Define the working memory model

  A representation of STM concerned with part of the mind that is active when we are temporarily storing and manipulating information.
• Name the four main components of the WMM

  1. Central executive

  2. Phonological loop

  3. Visio-spatial sketchpad

  4. Episodic buffer
• Outline the role of the central executive

  It has a supervisory function and directs attention to the slave systems.
• Outline the role of the phonological loop

  Processes information in terms of sound (both written and spoken material)
• State and define the two sub-components of the phonological loop

  - Articulatory control system ('inner voice') - keeps info in PL through vocal repetition and is linked to speech

  - Phonological store ('inner ear') - stores words recently heard for a short period of time
• Outline the role of the visuo-spatial sketchpad

  Processes visual and spatial information in a mental space ('inner eye')
• State and define the two sub-components of the visuo-spatial sketchpad

  - Inner scribe - handles spatial relationships between objects

  - Visual cache - processes visual info about form and colour of an object
• Outline the role of the episodic buffer

  Binds and integrates information from all of the slave systems and sub-components and sends information to the LTM
• Define dual-task performance

  Carrying out two tasks at the same time
• Name and describe the study which investigated dual-task performance

  Baddeley et al. (1975)

  - participants had to carry out two tasks simultaneously

  - first, they were asked to track a dot of light whilst describing letter 'F' (undertaking two visual tasks)

  - then they were asked to carry out visual and verbal task simultaneously

  - performance was worse when completing two visual tasks, compared to completing visual and verbal task

  - when completing two visual tasks they compete for limited resources of visuo-spatial sketchpad = support for WMM