Working Memory Model

• The Working Model of Memory was proposed by Baddeley and Hitch in the 1970's as an updated version on how STM works
• The WMM has four main components: Central Executive, Phonological Loop, Visuo-Spatial Sketchpad and the Episodic Buffer
• The Central Executive is in charge. It divides its attention between the slave systems (Phonological Loop and Visuo-Spatial Sketchpad). It is involved in logic and reasoning. It has limited capacity and its coding is modality free
• The Phonological Loop is subdivided into two subsystems: Phonological Store (inner ear) which stores the words you hear and Articulatory Process (inner voice) which allows for maintenance rehearsal. Its coding is acoustic and its capacity is what can be said in 2 seconds
• The Visuo-Spatial Sketchpad codes visually and has a capacity of 3-4 items. It is for temporary storage of visual and spatial info and includes the Visual Cache (visual data) and the Inner Scribe (records arrangement of objects in visual field)
• The Episodic Buffer synthesises information from other stores. IT has a capacity of about 4 chunks and codes modality free. It provides a link to LTM