Working memory model

    Cards (13)

    • 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.
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