Working Memory Model

• The Working Memory Model:

  
• We keep stating that a major criticism of MSM is that it says memory stores are described as single units.
• We have to at how LTM can be further divided into 3 stores..
• The WMM focuses on how STM can be divided up further , and this is how it works.
• Focuses on the STM.
• It is known as an active processor, as it stores and manipulates information.
• Key Details:

  Doesn't attempt to explain sensory memory or long term memory.
• There is one store for visual processing and one for processing sound.
• Tasks of the same type, lead to performing less well due to not being to multi-task on two of the same tasks.
• Two tasks which are different, mean the performance will be the same as if they were completed serparately.
• Central Executive:

  -Information enters

  -The 'attention process'- monitors incoming data and incoming decisions.

  -Limited Capacity, free to send data to slave systems so has to send information to the most important component which has overall control and supervises the slave system. The slave system are independent of each other.

  -It is modality free which means it takes information from all senses.
• Episodic Buffer-(2000)

  • Added component by Baddeley in 2000
  • Temporary Store- Very limited duration
  • Limited Capacity-Around 4 chunks
  • 'Bridge' between STM and LTM
  • Brings everything together in a similar memory, rather than separate stands
  • Integrates visual spatial, verbal information as it happens in order- modality free- like the central executive.
• The Phonological Loop-

  • Deals with acoustic information- acoustically coded.
  • Limited capacity and duration.
  • 2 parts-

  Phonological Store- Stores the words you hear.

  Articulatory Process- Maintenance rehearsal keeps the memory in a loop while they needed.

  • Duration=2 seconds
  • Inner Ear/Voice
• The Visuo-Spatial Sketchpad:

  • Stores visual and spatial information
  • Limited duration- Temporary Store
  • Limited capacity- 3/4 objects 'visual information'
  • 2 parts-

  Visual cache: stores visual data

  Inner Scribe: Records visual arrangement of objects in 'the inner field.'

  • Inner Eye
• Strengths:

  P- Supporting clinical evidence

  B-Shallice and Warrington conducted a case study on KF and showed that STM worked independently of LTM (also supports MSM.) Furthermore, KF demonstrated separation of auditory information and visual information in the STM: as he was able to remember visual images but unable to remember auditory like sounds.

  S- This suggests that there are at least two components within STM. This research supports the WMM and idea of slave systems, providing there is validity.
• P-There is evidence for the separation of visual and auditory memory through lab experiments.

  B-Baddeley showed that ppts had more difficulty doing 2 visual tasks at the same time (tracking a light and describing the letter F) compared to when they had to do a visual and a verbal task at the same time. This is because: when both tasks were visual they were therefore competing with each other for the same slave system.

  S- This suggests that there must be a separate slave system (Visuo-Spatial Sketchpad) which process visual input. vs auditory. This suggests validity.
• Weakness 1:

  P- WMM criticised for not fully explaining the role of the central executive.

  B- Baddeley (2003) himself has recognised that the CE is the most important yet the least understood component of the WMM. Some psychologists even think that the CE may consist of different sub-systems.

  S- This suggests that it may not be a valid model for fully explaining memory and that it only provides partial explanation of how memory works.

  ----->Incomplete as cannot fully explain memory.
• Weakness 2:

  P- Problems with the use of clinical evidence, including the use of case studies to support the WMM.

  B- While containing rich and detailed information, they cannot be generalised to wider population. This is because the data is retrospective and based on a certain individual and not the wider population.

  S- This suggests that some evidence has low external validity and lacks population validity.