Memory L4: WMM

• Who proposed the Working Memory Model in 1974?

  Baddeley and Hitch
• What is the role of the central executive in the Working Memory Model?

  Monitors data and allocates tasks
• What is a limitation of the central executive?

  It has a limited processing capacity
• What does the phonological loop deal with?

  Auditory information
• How is information coded in the phonological loop?

  Acoustically
• What are the two components of the phonological loop?

  • Phonological store: stores heard words
  • Articulatory process: allows maintenance rehearsal
• What is the capacity of the articulatory process?

  2 seconds
• What does the visuo-spatial sketchpad store?

  Visual and spatial information
• According to Baddeley 2003, what is the capacity of the visuo-spatial sketchpad?

  3-4 objects
• What are the two components of the visuo-spatial sketchpad?

  • Visual cache: stores visual data
  • Inner scribe: records object arrangement
• What is the function of the episodic buffer?

  Integrates visual, spatial, and verbal information
• What is the capacity of the episodic buffer?

  4 chunks
• How does the episodic buffer relate to long-term memory?

  Links working memory to long-term memory
• What clinical evidence supports the Working Memory Model?

  • Patient KF had poor auditory STM
  • Normal visual information processing
  • Better recall of visual information than auditory
• What limitation is associated with patient KF's study?

  Cognitive impairments may affect performance
• What do dual task performance studies show about the visuo-spatial sketchpad?

  • Visual and verbal tasks performed well separately
  • Performance declines when both tasks are visual
  • Supports separate subsystems for visual and verbal input
• What is a criticism of the central executive?

  It is poorly understood and defined
• What did Baddeley state about the central executive in 2003?

  It is the most important yet least understood
• What do some psychologists theorize about the central executive?

  It consists of separate subcomponents