Working memory model

• working memory model

  made by Baddely + Hitch

  representation of STM

  
• central executive

  monitors incoming data, divides our limited attention, allocates subsystems tasks.

  limited processing capacity

  doesn't store information
• phonological loop

  processes auditory information

  coding is acoustic

  preserves the order information arrives in.

  subdivided into:

  -> phonological loop

  -> articulatory process
• phonological store

  subdivision of the phonological loop

  stores the words you hear
• articulatory process

  subdivision of the phonological loop

  allows maintenance rehearsal.

  capacity is believed to be 2 seconds worth of what you can say
• visuo-spatial sketchpad

  processes visual and spatial information

  limited capacity - 3 or 4 objects

  subdivisions:

  -> visual cache

  -> inner scribe
• visual cache

  subdivision of the visuo-spatial sketchpad

  stores visual data
• inner scribe

  subdivision of the visuo-spatial sketchpad

  records arrangement of objects in the visual field
• episodic buffer

  added later by Baddeley

  brings together material from all the subsystems

  maintains a sence of time sequencing.

  temporary store

  limited capacity of 4 chunks.

  links working memory to LTM
• strength - clinical evidence

  KF - had a brain injury

  poor STM ability for auditory information but could process visual information normally

  recall was better when he read it to himself rather than when he had it read to him.

  phonological loop was damaged, but visuo-spatial sketchpad was intact
• counterpoint - clinical evidence

  unclear whether KF had other cognitive impairments which may have affected his performance on memory

  trauma from his accident may have affected his cognitive performance that wasn't due to the brain injury.

  this challenges the evidence
• strength - dual task performance

  studies support separate existence of the visuo-spatial sketchpad

  Baddeley et al

  participants carried out a visual and verbal task at the same time

  performance on each was similar to when they did the tasks separately.

  when both tasks were verbal or both tasks were visual, performance declined.

  shows there must be separate subsystems
• limitation - central executive

  lack of clarity over the central executive

  Baddeley said it is the most important but least understood component of working memory

  CE isn't very specific, some psychologists think it may consist of separate subcomponents.