Working Memory Model

• • the working memory model is an explanation of short term memory and consists of four elements.
• First component is the central executive model which monitors incoming data, making decisions and allocating slave systems to tasks.
• 1. Secondly, the phonological loop, which deals with auditory information, maintaining the order in which it came in. Subdivided into two stores
  2. articulatory process- allows maintanence rehearsal
  3. phonological store
• Thirdly, visuo-spatial sketchpad which processes visual and spatial information

  • limited capacity of 3-4 objects (Baddeley)
  • Logie- subdidvided into cache and inner scribe
• • Thirdly, the episodic buffer, which brings information from other stores into single memory.
  • Added by Baddeley
• Strength of the WMM

  • Clinical evidence, such as the case study of patient KF done by Shallice and Warrington
  • KF suffered brain damage, leading to poor short-term memory for verbal information but intact visual processing
  • Suggests his phonological loop was damaged, while other parts of his memory were intact
  • Supports the existence of separate visual and acoustic stores
• Weakness of using the case study

  • Individual differences - brain damaged patients tend to be rare, unique cases
  • May not be reliable enough to apply to the general population
  • Lacks ecological validity
• Strength

  1. studies of dual task performance which support the existence of visuo-spatial sketchpad.
  2. Baddeley showed that participants had more difficulty doing two visual task at the same time, than one visual and one verbal.
  3. This increased difficulty is due to both visual tasks competing for same slave system.
• Weakness-

  1. Lack of clarity of central executive
  2. cognitive psychologists- this component is unsatisfactory and does not explain anything
  3. Baddeley- 'most important, least understood'
  4. WMM explanation not completely explained.
• Weakness- Validity

  1. Studies and evidence used to support model tend to be highly controlled and unlike everyday memory tasks.
  2. Is lacking mundane realism